A civil society organization (CSO) promoting national peace, the Wazobia Conflict Resolution and Peace Advocacy Initiative (WACORPAI), has submitted a proposal calling for constitutional recognition of the core mandates of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Led by its National President, Comrade Dr. Garba Suleiman Marafa, alongside a respected traditional ruler and National Executive Committee member of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, Comrade Kabir Nasir Isah, the group presented its memorandum during a two-day public hearing on the 1999 Constitution Review, organized by the Senate.
The public hearing, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin (Maliya), was held at the Bristol Hotel in Kano over the weekend and featured robust contributions from individuals and interest groups across the North-Western states.
In their submission, WACORPAI and its partners urged the Senate Committee to ensure that the NSCDC and its statutory functions are explicitly enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
They argued that the Corps, which currently derives its authority from the 2007 Act of the National Assembly (as amended), requires a stronger legal foundation to operate more effectively.
They further advocated for the expansion of the Corps’ constitutional responsibilities to include strategic initiatives such as the Safe School Project, Agro-Rangers, and Mining Marshals, programs that enhance community security, protect national assets, and contribute to sustainable development.
WACORPAI groups praised the NSCDC for its professionalism, public engagement, community policing efforts, conflict resolution strategies, and unwavering commitment to national service.
They appealed to traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, and the general public to support the proposal for constitutional recognition.
Reaffirming their respect for the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, the groups expressed hope that the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review would consider their recommendations and approve them in the interest of national peace and security.
