Africa
IN a bid to strengthen security in Enugu State, a bill to formalise the operations of the Neighbourhood Watch Association in the state has scaled through second reading.
The bill would ensure that personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch were converted to civil service, which makes them eligible to earn pension after retirement.
The leader of the House, Mr Iloabuchi Aniagu, stated this during the plenary on Thursay in Enugu.
He said that the role of the Neighbourhood Watch in the maintenance of security in Enugu State was crucial.
Aniagu stressed that there was urgent need to strengthen the local security outfit by ensuring that they bore sophisticated weapons to enable them confront criminals, as well as improve their welfare packages.
The leader explained that the bill would empower the state governor to appoint a commander, who would oversee and coordinate the activities of the security outfit in the state.
According to Aniagu, there will be commanders at the 17 local government areas, as the bill would encourage the Neighbourhood Watch to do more in securing the lives and properties of Enugu citizens.
Also contributing, Mr William Amuka representing Igbo Etiti West constituency said that the bill which intended to boost security in the rural communities was timely, noting that security was paramount to development.
Amuka revealed that the current bill captures things not included in the bill previously, which was to ensure that the Neighbourhood Watch had a well-structured payment.
Mr Chima Obieze representing Ezeagu constituency lauded the state government for coming up with the bill that would make it possible for the indigenes of a community to be in charge of their security.
Obieze was of the opinion that criminal activities in the rural communities would be drastically reduced, if not eliminated, if the indigenes are in control of their security.
The lawmaker expressed happiness that there would be a board to monitor and regulate the activities of the Neighbourhood Watch from abuse.
Obieze maintained that the bill would ensure that the operatives of the Neighbourhood Watch did not live like paupers or depended on stipend from public spirited individuals.
In the same vein, Mr Lebechi Eze asked the board to ensure that those recruit in to the local security outfit are qualified, and psychologically stable considering the fact that they would bear arms.
In his remark, the Speaker, Chief Uche Ugwu, said the House would be meticulous in the passage of the bill to ensure that the security of the state was enhanced.
Ugwu directed that the House Committees on Security and Judiciary should look into the bill and report back to the House in one week time.(NAN)
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-May 2, 2024 @ 22:54 GMT|
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