Insecurity: Supreme Council for Shari’ah Pushes for Constitutional Review, Multi-level Police

*Urges Tinubu to be fair, just, equitable

Deji Elumoye and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), has  asked the federal government to review the Nigerian constitution as part of measures to addressing the challenges facing governance in the country.

Against the backdrop of the lingering insecurity in the country, SCSN said the review should make provisions that would enable governors to perform more effectively, their statutory roles as chief security officers of their states.

The council further expressed support for the anti-corruption drive of the government and all its policies that were aimed at improving the welfare of the citizens.
It expressed support for the anti-corruption drive of the government and all its policies that were aimed at improving the welfare of the citizens.
The Shari’ah Council particularly, urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure equity, justice and fairness in appointments and governance.
President of the Council, Sheikh AbdurRasheed Hadiyatullah and the Secretary General, Malam Nafi’u Baba Ahmed, urged the federal government to work harder to end the insecurity in the country.

“We urge the federal government to do all it takes within the ambit of the law to bring an end to the prevailing insecurity situation, through improved and effective intelligence gathering, deployment of strong offensive against all flash points of security threats, the promotion of community-oriented policing and fostering genuine trust between security forces and local communities.
“Additionally, a constitutional review is recommended to enable governors to perform more effectively their statutory roles as chief security officers of their states,” he said in a communique jointly signed.

In addition, the Council urged the federal government to launch a full-scale investigation and prosecution of those arrested on all cases leading to the killings around the country, “especially those arrested for killing of General Alkali in Plateau State, the attack on worshippers in the Church in Jos, the killing of 11 Fulani herders arrested by the military in southern Kaduna and all others in different parts of the Country.”

SCSN said government should expedite action in implementing programmes that would empower communities economically and socially, addressing the underlying factors that contribute to insecurity.
It called for the expansion and improvement of social safety nets, policies that stimulate and prioritise job creation, private sector growth and small business development.

Regarding concerns generated by the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket that yielded the Tinubu/Shettima Presidency, SCSN urged the administration to ensure that the people experience good governance, justice and equity.
The Vice-President of the Council, Dr Bashir Umar, who also spoke after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, commended the administration’s economic policies.
Fielding questions from reporters, he said the group paid a courtesy call on the president to show solidarity and commended him on the decisions he has taken so far on behalf of the country.

“We are here today on courtesy call to the President and to show our solidarity and commendation for the hard decisions he is taking for the country,” he said.
According to him, the Islamic Council advised the President to expedite action to cushion the effect of the hard economic decisions while also requesting that he tackles insecurity headlong so as to achieve food security.
Umar further disclosed that the Council for Sharia also submitted the communiqué of its just concluded conference,  which postmortem the 2023 general election to the President.

He added that the Council reviewed the nation’s last general election to create a consensus and proffer the way forward to perceived contending issues in the last elections.
His stressed that the president while responding to their requests gave assurances  and encouraging remarks that called for more prayers for the peace and security as well as the development of the country.