The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)/Partnership for Advocacy and Civic Education (PACE) Working group on Security met in Lagos on 15^th July 2003. The Working Group on Security is one of the Working Groups set up to increase the engagement of civil society organisations in constitutional reform to advocate for a comprehensive review of the 1999 Constitution. The other working groups are those on socio-economic rights, citizenship, fiscal federalism, independent Commission, Gender and National Conference.

• The task of creating and maintaining a viable and legitimate State that is accessible, efficient, accountable, transparent and equitable has been one of the most critical and complicated challenges of the transformation process that African countries are currently undergoing. This task should be underpinned with regards to the security sector by clear constitutional guidelines and legislative injunctions.

• Security sector organisations (the military, police, intelligence services etc. should be accountable to elected civil authorities and civil society.

• There is the need to build the capacity of legislators and civil society organisations so that they will have the knowledge and expertise to have effective oversight over security sector organisations.

• Long years of military rule in Nigeria has destroyed the basis of dialogue and elevated the use of force and the culture of impunity.

• There is the need to see security beyond its military characterisation to include food security, security of the environment and people.

• The high level of insecurity, inter-communal and inter-ethnic clashes, religious violence, armed robbery, assassination and gender based violence in Nigeria have deep rooted causes such as the culture of militarism that has its antecedents in military rule; failure of the state and its institutions; poverty; the structure of the federation; manipulation of religion and politics of exclusion among other factors.

• The use of the military as an aid to civil authority has the potential of politicising the military and undermining its mission as a professional organisation dedicated to protecting the state against external aggression.

• There is the need for training and reorientation of security sector personnel to respect the rights of citizens.

 

• The various committees in the national Assembly with oversight for security sector organisations and civil society organisations should build up their capacities and have effective democratic control over security sector organisations.

• The Government and civil society organisations should create avenues of dialogue and interaction with security actors and agencies with a view to building confidence.

• Government should review the use of the military in aid to civil authority and clearly specify conditions and limits of such use by overarching constitutional and legislative provisions.

• Government should review the threat assessment of Nigeria and reformulate its defence and security policy with a view to making human security as the centrepiece of the policy; and with appropriate strategies of implementation.

• Government should review the laws under which security agencies in Nigeria operate (The Police Act 1956, the Army Act 1962, the Airforce Act 1964 etc. with a view to bringing them in conformity with modern day reality grounded on the respect for human rights.

• The National Human Rights Commission should be entrenched in the Constitution to protect the rights of citizens against abuse.

• An inspectorate should be created to monitor and regulate the activities of Security agencies as they relate to violations of fundamental human rights.

• Members of the armed forces should be utilised for "non-security" duties like construction and food production when the country is not at war.

• The Nigeria Police should be reformed to make provision for community policing.

• The Constitutional provision in section 220 of the 1999 constitution for compulsory military training should be implemented.

• Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution, which makes it almost impossible to review the National Security Agencies Act, should be expunged from the constitution.

• The recruitment policy into the security agencies should be transparent and appropriate remuneration should be paid to security personnel.

• Military pension should be addressed with the urgency that it deserves.

• Civil Society Organisations should implement a more aggressive advocacy strategy that will incorporate the use of radio, drama, billboards, editorials, carton strips, lobbying, picketing, the media, internet etc.

Mr. Otive Igbuzor Programme Co-ordinator, CDD	Dr. J. ‘Kayode Fayemi Working Group Leader Security
Mr. Dotun Atilade Member of Working Group	Mr. Obo Effang Member of Working Group