FG Raises Committees On N’East Security, Election Violence

The Federal Government last Friday in Abuja inaugurated a committee to produce a white paper on the report of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North-East zone.

Inaugurating the committee, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said it was President Goodluck Jonathan’s desire to take urgent action on the report.

Anyim said the committee should work round the clock to enable it produce the white paper within two weeks.

He said the committee was among other things to study and analyse the findings and recommendations contained in the report; and to produce and submit a draft white paper on it for the consideration of government.

“The committee is also to bring out a roadmap for peace that is pragmatic, implementable and offers durable solution to the security challenges in the zone.’’

The Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, is to serve as chairman of the committee, while the members are the Minister of State for Agriculture, and the Solicitor-General of the Federation/Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice.

Others are the Permanent Secretary (SSO), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; a representative each of the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser and the Director-General, Department of State Services.

A representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is to serve as secretary.

Responding, Moro described the committee’s assignment as challenging, and said that the members were aware of the expectations of Nigerians.

He assured the government that the committee would come out with a white paper that would meet the expectations of Nigerians.

Reports indicate that the committee was constituted on August 5.

Similarly, Anyim last Friday inaugurated a white paper-drafting committee on the report of the Federal Government Investigation Panel on Post Election Violence and Disturbances.

The Chairman of the committee is Ms Ama Pepple, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

The members are the Solicitor-General of the Federation/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice; a representative each of the National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, and Chief of Defence Staff.

The Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office (SSO) is to serve as Secretary of the committee.

Anyim said the committee’s terms of reference were to study and analyse the findings and recommendations in the report and produce and submit a draft white paper on it for the consideration of government.

Responding, Pepple said members of the committee would do their best to justify the confidence reposed in them.

The committee has two weeks to submit its report.

It would be recalled that the Investigation Panel on Post-Election Violence and Disturbances was constituted on May 9.