Senators have raised serious concerns over what they described as the selective enforcement of President Bola Tinubu’s order directing the withdrawal of police orderlies attached to Very Important Personalities (VIPs). They warned that lawmakers must not be made scapegoats in the process.
The issue came up during plenary after Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) moved a point of order, revealing that his only police orderly was withdrawn early on Wednesday, while many other high-profile individuals still retained theirs.
President Tinubu’s directive, implemented by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, involves recalling around 11,000 police personnel from VIP escorts nationwide to boost community policing, enhance manpower, and redirect officers to critical security duties.
Senator Ningi criticised what he termed an uneven application of the policy, insisting it must be enforced equally at all levels.
“It should be across the board. Let’s see what happens from the President’s office, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker, and the Ministers. After they took my only orderly, I still see ministers’ convoys heavily guarded. I’ve seen business outfits, including Chinese companies, with orderlies. I’ve seen children of political office holders and even singers with police protection,” he said.
He added that while he could personally manage without an orderly, it was unacceptable for senators to be singled out. He urged the Senate President to direct the Committee on Police Affairs to probe the selective enforcement.
“The National Assembly should not be turned into a scapegoat,” he stated.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who presided over proceedings, responded that Senate leadership had already discussed the matter extensively and was engaging with the Presidency to secure an exemption for legislators.
He reassured senators that steps were underway to restore their security personnel, noting that providing such protection for lawmakers is standard internationally.
“We have taken this issue seriously. At the leadership level, we agreed that the proper steps should be taken to restore your police orderly. I believe we have a listening President who will reconsider that directive, even though it was given in good faith,” Jibrin said.
The Senate’s intervention comes as nationwide discussions intensify over striking a balance between VIP protection and the urgent need to strengthen policing at community levels.
