Nigerian lawmaker decries selective implementation of VIP Police orderly withdrawal

The implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw approximately 11,000 police orderlies from Very Important Personalities (VIPs) has drawn condemnation from PDP, Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi, who lamented about the selective enforcement of the order.
‎
During a plenary session on Wednesday, Senator Ningi confirmed that his only police orderly had been withdrawn in the early hours of the day. He argued that the policy was being unfairly applied, singling out lawmakers while sparing others.
‎
Ningi stated that while his protection was removed, he continued to observe heavy police presence attached to other categories of people like the ministers, Chinese companies, daughters and sons of political office holders and even singers with police protection.
‎
The lawmaker insisted that the order must be implemented across the board in the spirit of fairness and equity, warning that the National Assembly should not be used as a “scapegoat”.
‎
He called on the Senate President to permit the Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the apparent selective enforcement of the withdrawal directive.
‎
‎The Senate leadership acknowledged the gravity of the lawmaker’s complaint and assured members that efforts were already underway to seek an exemption from the Presidency.
‎
‎Meanwhile, the Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin who presided over the session, confirmed that the leadership had deliberated on the matter and was engaging the Presidency. He assured affected senators that steps are being taken to restore their police orderlies, stressing that such protection aligns with international legislative practice.