I would like to see this Nigerian Regional Security Bill 2020 passed into law on February 1 on the 51st anniversary of the Agbekoya Tax Revolt

By Ayo Akinfe

[1] This Nigerian Regional Security Bill is simultaneously assented into law today on Saturday February 1 2020 by Governors Babajide Sanwoolu, Dapo Abiodun, Seyi Makinde, Gboyega Oyetola, Rotimi Akeredolu and Kayode Fayemi after being passed by the Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti state houses of assembly in line with the dictates of the 2015 Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Nigerian Firearms Act 1990. It hereby creates a security outfit to be known as Amotekun, that shall be operational as from today in all the above-mentioned states

[2] There will be an Amotekun command in each state, headed by a commander, who will be a retired security personnel. To coordinate their activities, there will be an Amotekun controller-general, who will also be a retired security operative. There will also be an central Amotekun chief executive, who will be in charge of administrative duties and be the public face of the organisation

[3] Any member of Amotekun involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, political thuggery, rape or acts of violence will be sacked immediately and handed over to the police for immediate prosecution. Likewise, collecting bribes or extorting money from members of the public must lead to immediate dismissal of any Amotekun operative. An internal affairs unit, kind of similar to the military police will be created to monitor units and carry out periodic checks

[4] All Amotekun operatives must be barred from participating in primary, local government and general elections in any shape or form. Laws governing their neutrality must be similar to those governing traditional monarchs. State governors and politicians will not be able to deploy Amotekun operatives. Amotekun's controller-general will be the one responsible for all operational matters. Politicians will have no operational control over the day-to-day workings of Amotekun

[5] Amotekun's chief executive should look to recruit about 100,000 youths where they will be paid at least N50,000 a month. This will be funded by the governors’ security votes. From February 2020 onwards, the security vote paid to all state governors across the southwest geo-political zone will go straight to the Amotekun secretariat

[6] At least a third of Operation Amotekun’s operatives should be female. This will allay a lot of fears that it is a congregation of thugs and hoodlums. Everyone who signs up to be an Amotekun operative must be trained to at least an O’Level standard of education. Anyone wishing to continue his or her education should be trained at the expense of the organisation as long as they commit to remaining with Operation Amotekun for say a 10 year period.

[7] Amotekun will also act as Nigeria's investment protection police, guarding all investments across the southwest geo-political zone. Amotekun guarantees all foreign investors that it will provide security for any investment they make across southwest Nigeria. Over time, Amotekun shall look to extend its operations to cover issues like adult literacy classes, farmer education, climate change information, antenatal service provision and skills provision through the opening of a technical college

[8] All Amotekun operatives will be trained to provide first aid, antenatal, emergency healthcare and paramedical services. If a woman is giving birth for instance, they will be well qualified to deliver that child

[9] In every local government where Amotekun operates, there will be a weekly meeting with the divisional police officer to share intelligence. If need be, the local military commander will be asked to attend such meetings too. There are 133 local governments in southwest Nigeria - Lagos (20), Ogun (20), Osun (30), Oyo (33), Ondo (18) and Ekiti (16). Each of them will have one Amotekun office, where members of the public can drop in to offer intelligence. They will also have emergency numbers and email addresses where people can offer information anonymously

[10] Amotekun will have a 12-man board of directors who shall be the six state governors, the Aare Ona Kakanfo, the chief executive, the controller-general, the head of Afenifere and two appointed females. The chair of the South West Governors Forum will be its chairman. One of the appointed ladies will be a lawyer who serves as its legal adviser and who acts as the secretary of the board of directors, while the other will be the finance director