FG seeks private sector partnership on tackling security challenges

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Goni Aji has called on the private sector, Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOS) and other stakeholders to partner with the Federal Government to tackle the present security challenges in the country.

Bukar Goni Aji said this at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria in Abuja when he declared open a two-day ‘Homeland Security Training Programme’ for officers on Salary Grade Levels 08 to 14 in the Federal Civil Service.

Represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Jamila Shu’ara, the Head of Service said that the fight against terrorism and criminality is a collective responsibility that should not be left for the presidency or the security agencies alone. He stated that all Nigerians have to constantly search for imaginative solutions to help in addressing the ever-changing dimensions of crime in the country.

The present administration, Bukar Goni Aji said has already put in place many measures to combat crime and criminality in the country such as signing of the Anti-Terrorism Act; granting of amnesty to repentant militants; establishment of a Presidential Dialogue and Restoration of Peace Committee in the North- East; Anti-Human Trafficking Act and the Child Rights Act, among others.

He also explained that the Nigerian Government has placed a high premium on the training of public officers to make them more vigilant on security issues. This according to him agrees with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation’s responsibility to partner with the private sector in organizing security training programmes for middle level officers in the Federal Civil Service. Adding, the training will complement the efforts of other Agencies of Government to combat terrorism, kidnapping and internet/cyber fraud.

Speaking earlier, the Director of Operations of the collaborating private organization, Garbriel Gundu said that their organization is ready and willing to partner with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and other similar organizations in tackling homeland and national security, in order to prevent violence in the country and restore enduring peace for national development.