A mild-drama played out on the Senate floor on Wednesday as Bauchi Central lawmaker, Abdul Ningi, stormed the chamber to protest the withdrawal of his only police orderly, calling the move “unfair” and “selective enforcement.”
The directive, rolled out by President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police, is meant to free up officers for core security duties amid rising insecurity and years of misuse of police personnel for personal protection. But Ningi hit out, insisting that while ordinary Nigerians, including political heavyweights, top business figures, and even entertainers, still enjoy full police protection, senators are being left exposed.
“It should be done across the board. Let us see what happens from the office of the President to the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, ministers, governors, business concerns, and even the sons and daughters of political office holders.
“I have seen singers and foreign business owners with police escorts. But a senator has his only orderly withdrawn? It is unfair,” he fumed.
The senator called on the Senate leadership to task the Committee on Police Affairs to probe the “selective enforcement,” warning that lawmakers, who regularly face threats in the line of duty, cannot be singled out.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, presiding over the session, confirmed the concerns had been raised at a leadership meeting and assured Ningi that action was underway.
“The issue you raised is taken seriously. The leadership has agreed that the necessary action should be taken to restore your police orderliness because it aligns with international practice.
“We also believe Mr President will listen, as the directive was not meant to deprive lawmakers unfairly,” Senator Barau said.
Barau reiterated the Senate’s backing of the government’s security reforms but stressed that any signs of selective enforcement must be swiftly corrected to maintain public confidence.
