CSOs Fault Akpabio’s Call For Return of Police Escorts To Lawmakers

Civil society organisations (CSOs) have criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s call for the restoration of police escorts to members of the National Assembly and other senior public officials, describing it as a misplaced priority.

The groups reacted to Mr Akpabio’s appeal to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his directive withdrawing police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), a move aimed at redeploying personnel to address broader security challenges nationwide.

Mr Akpabio made the appeal on Friday during President Tinubu’s presentation of the 2026 budget at a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja, warning that the policy had exposed federal lawmakers to security risks.

“Some of the National Assembly members said I should let you know that they may not be able to go home today,” the Senate President told the president, urging a review of the decision.

However, a coalition of civil society groups under the Support For Civil Society Organisations Initiative rejected the request, arguing that it runs contrary to democratic norms and the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.

“In other democracies, legislators do not move around with large numbers of armed police officers while citizens remain exposed to insecurity,” the group said in a statement.

Its leader, Chief ‘Aare’ Oluwasegun Oyedijo, said public office holders should not be shielded from the conditions faced by the people they represent.

The coalition argued that effective governance and accountability, rather than armed escorts, are what guarantee public trust and safety. It added that the withdrawal of police escorts could help bridge the growing gap between elected officials and their constituents, fostering closer engagement and responsibility.

The group also criticised what it described as the excessive deployment of state security resources for the personal protection of politicians, saying the practice fuels privilege and abuse of power.

According to the coalition, the Nigeria Police Force should prioritise community protection and public safety rather than acting as personal guards for political office holders.

“We are not advocating lawlessness,” the statement said. “Leaders who perform their duties diligently do not need to hide behind armed security. This step will strengthen democracy and promote the delivery of real dividends of governance.”

President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs on 23 November, directing officials who require armed protection to seek it through the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The government says the policy is part of efforts to optimise limited policing resources amid rising insecurity.

At the same session, Mr Akpabio praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they were beginning to yield results despite widespread hardship, and pledged the National Assembly’s support for the administration’s reform agenda and the proposed 2026 budget.