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Oscar Okhifo
The House of Representatives has resolved to summon the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, over the conduct of security operatives who mount checkpoints in mufti or incomplete uniforms across the country.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Hon. Ibe Osonwa, representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State, during Thursday’s plenary. Osonwa expressed deep concern over the increasing presence of police and civil defence personnel at checkpoints who appear in plain clothes or partial uniforms, often without name tags or visible identification.
According to him, “It has become a worrisome trend that officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Civil Defence Corps are seen at checkpoints and on patrol duties wearing jeans, T-shirts or incomplete uniforms, with no means of identification.
” This poses a serious risk to citizens and undermines the integrity of our security agencies.”
He added that such acts violate the provisions of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, which mandates officers to appear in proper uniforms with their names and ranks clearly displayed.
“The absence of proper identification has led to numerous cases of harassment, extortion, and even brutality at various checkpoints across the country,” Osonwa stated.
Contributing to the debate, several lawmakers backed the motion, noting that the practice has eroded public confidence in law enforcement.
A member from Kaduna State remarked, “When officers hide their identity, it becomes difficult to differentiate between genuine security personnel and impostors.
The House must act now to restore professionalism and public trust.”
Adopting the motion, the House directed its Committees on Police Affairs and Interior to summon the IGP and the NSCDC Commandant-General to explain the continued use of mufti by personnel on duty and to present a concrete plan for enforcement of proper dress codes.
The committees were also mandated to conduct oversight visits to key checkpoints nationwide and report their findings within six weeks.
Lawmakers further urged the heads of the security agencies to ensure that all officers deployed for patrol, stop-and-search, or checkpoint duties wear full uniforms, complete with name tags and service numbers, to promote accountability and transparency.
They stressed that with the festive season approaching and inter-state travel expected to surge, ensuring order and professionalism at security checkpoints has become more urgent than ever.
