Benue State will soon enact a law to establish a State Security Trust Fund to pool funds for the acquisition and deployment of security equipment and other resources. The Bill enjoyed its Second Reading during Thursday’s Plenary, presided over by Speaker, Right Honourable Alfred Emberga, when Majority Leader, Hon Thomas Dugeri, moved a motion to that effect.
Earlier, Dugeri stated that, “the cardinal objective of this Bill is to create a pool of funds for the acquisition and deployment of security equipment and such human and material resources as shall be deemed necessary for the effective functioning of all Federal, State, Local Government and other security agencies operating in the State. “
“It is the intent of this Bill that part of this fund shall be reserved for the training and retraining of security personnel to enable them contend with the security needs of the State”, he added
Dugeri noted that the Bill is timely, given the current insecurity and threats facing Benue people. He emphasized that security is everyone’s business, and investing in the security sector is crucial to being proactive.
Supporting the motion, Members Representing Konshisha, Oju One and Okpokwu State Constituencies, Honourables Cephas Dyako, Emmanuel Blessed-Onah and Anthony Agom, highlighted the challenges facing Security Agencies, particularly the lack of fuel and other logistics when security services are required. They noted that the Trust Fund would enable the Agencies to function more effectively.
The Speaker directed the Clerk, Dr Bem Mela, to read the Bill for its Second Time, and it was referred to the House Standing Committee on Security, Chieftaincy, and Local Government Affairs for further scrutiny.
