Security Policy Formulation in Local Government Councils in Nigeria

Abstract

Security planning policy making is an essential but regrettably neglected area of the local government council management in Nigeria and one, which has demonstrated serious implications for virtually all aspects of its operations.  The need for security planning policy making more than ever before, has become very necessary considering the current sophisticated and complicated security problems and challenges facing the Nigerian state today, especially at the local council levels.  The local government councils of recent have to deal with security challenges arising from ethno-religious riots, crises, militant groups like “MEND” in the Niger Delta, Boko Haram in the North East, kidnapping, armed robbery, hired assassins, communal clashes, chieftaincy tussles, activities of touts/transport operators, mismanagement of resources through sharp fraudulent practices, etc.  The approach of the local government councils in handling these security problems and challenges has been anything but satisfactory.  The councils had adopted reactionary approach by reacting to the challenges as they arise instead of finding a permanent solution to the problem by adopting preventive security strategy which would anticipate and develop security framework to deal with such problems before they are experienced.  The best approach for effective and efficient security management at the local government councils in Nigeria is the adoption of an institutionalized framework for security planning formulation and policy making implementation.
Key Words: Security policy; Formulation; Local government councils; Nigeria