By Aishat Ibrahim
The National Economic Council (NEC) has resolved that the payment of compensation to victims of #EndSARS protests set up across the country should proceed.
In receipt of reports from judicial panels, NEC said the compensation should be done with each state in collaboration with the Federal Government, stating modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensation awarded by the panels.
NEC, headed by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also resolved to ensure the prosecution of persons indicted by the panels.
The Council directed the panels “to immediately forward copies of final reports of the panels to their Attorney-General for the prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicated persons.”
“Nigeria Police Force to take disciplinary action on the affected officers in line with the provisions of the Police Act 2020,” NEC added.
However, the Council advised those planning protests in communication of #EndSARS victims, to reconsider the decision in view of “current security situation across the country.”
Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, while reporting the outcome of the meeting stated that “the advice was given because of the possibility of the protests being hijacked by criminals to cause chaos at the event and venue.”
NEC also called on security agencies to ensure that personnel recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug test before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to possess weapons and identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions.
The Council also urged Federal Government to give priority to the general welfare of police officers and personnel of other security agencies.
