ASCSN calls for state police to combat rising violence and kidnappings, urging government action to protect citizens nationwide.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has asked the Federal Government and state governors to immediately overhaul Nigeria’s security system and establish state police as violent attacks, kidnappings and mass displacement continue to rise nationwide.
Speaking at the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, ASCSN President, Comrade Shehu Mohammed, warned that Nigerians now live under constant fear due to the widespread breakdown of security.
“Every day, we read in mainstream and social media and watch on television the gory tales of citizens being kidnapped, killed, or displaced from their homes by all manners of criminals,” Mohammed said. “These almost daily incidents have created a specter of fear among citizens in all parts of the country. Members of the association and their families have been largely affected by these criminal activities.”
Mohammed urged the Federal Government to “rejig the security architecture” in line with growing public demand, and called on state governors to take more responsibility for securing their states, as recently emphasized by the President.
Offering a safeguard to the controversial debate on state policing, the ASCSN president proposed the establishment of State Police Service Commissions designed to limit the influence of governors. These bodies, he said, should include representatives of political parties, labour unions, religious organisations, traditional rulers, students, NGOs, and other respected stakeholders.
“This model will ensure that governors do not have absolute control over state police commands and check any tendency to use them as tools for vendetta,” he said.
In a goodwill message to the NEC, the Minister of Labour and Employment commended the ASCSN for its steady contribution to industrial harmony and advocacy for workers’ welfare. Describing the union as a “dependable partner,” the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to social dialogue, decent work and collaboration with organised labour.
“As the world of work continues to evolve, we must work together to equip our workforce with the skills and protections needed for competitiveness in a rapidly changing global economy,” the Minister added, urging delegates to advance ethical unionism and produce actionable recommendations for national development.
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