NEC: Security operatives must undergo periodic psychiatric evaluation, drug test

The National Economic Council (NEC) has called on the leadership of the security agencies to ensure that their arms-bearing personnel undergo periodic psychiatric evaluation and drug test.

This, the Council said, is to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions.

The Council also charged security personnel to dutifully observe Rules of Engagement in the discharge of their functions/duties around and within the civilian populace.

“Persons recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions,” the Council said.

These are part of the Council’s resolutions after its meeting on Friday.

NEC is composed of all state governors in the Federation and representatives of the Federal Government. The body is Chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

While acknowledging the various initiatives introduced by the Federal Government, the Council urged the central government to give priority to the general welfare of police officers and personnel of other security agencies.

In particular, it advocated the review of pension and gratuity of retired police officers and attainment of parity of remuneration by police officers with sister security agencies.

The Council charged the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all police stations across the country with a view to ensuring that they are fit for purpose.

NEC also stated that all police officers on duty should be in police-approved uniform with their full names and force numbers boldly written for easy identification.

It said that the system established within the Nigeria Police Force for receipt and handling of complaints or petitions is strengthened.

“Nigeria Police Force to, in line with the mandatory training provisions of the Police Act 2020, prioritize training of Police Officers on procedures for the entrenchment of Human Rights Provisions guaranteed by the Constitution and on the professional handling of weapons,” it said.

At the meeting, the Council directed state governors to set machinery in motion for the prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicted persons, both security personnel and civilians, by the #EndSARS panels.

Also, the governors have been mandated to, in collaboration with the Federal Government, establish modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensations awarded by the Panels.

According to the Council, where incidents in the reports relate to matters of discipline, in addition to prosecution, NEC urged the Nigeria Police Force to take disciplinary action on the affected officers in line with the provisions of the Police Act 2020.

“Council directed state governors to immediately forward copies of final reports of the panels to their Attorneys-General for prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicted persons,” the NEC said.