The Nigerian Peace Keeping (Support & Participation) Bill, 2018 which seeks to restrict the powers of the President regarding peacekeeping missions has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. The Bill will ensure that it is mandatory for the National Assembly to approve peacekeeping missions in other countries and appropriate funds for its execution. The Bill was sponsored by Hon. Olowole Oke and titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Provide for Statutory Regulations of Peace Keeping Operations by Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Other Security Organizations; and for Related Matters.’
He said, “The legendary feats of our gallant Armed Forces remain evident in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone where we poured human and material resources to bring peace to those troubled states at that time. In 2004, Nigerian troops were deployed to Darfur as part of the African Union Mission in Sudan. Nigeria also provided 1,200 troops and 200 police officers to Mali in 2004.
“It is, however, surprising that despite the fact that we have been a major contributor to UN and non-UN peacekeeping missions, Nigeria does not have a regulatory framework that guides the deployment and withdrawal of Nigerian troops and security personnel from conflict zones. Interestingly, Nigerian law does not contain a single provision on this subject matter.”
The lawmaker said Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution grants power to the President to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria or a part thereof, these powers are however limited to the country’s boundaries.
He said, “Hence, where there is need to deploy troops and security personnel outside the shores of Nigeria, the Constitution does not make any specific provision for this and the practice has been that the President simply gives his approval for involvement in peacekeeping mission(s).
“Many other jurisdictions have similar laws and it is important that this important foreign policy tool at our disposal is properly regulated and the required framework exists and is comparable with the practice in other countries.”
