The House of Representatives has stepped down a motion calling for Members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to bear small arms after a motion by Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC: Borno) sought to empower the CJTF (civilian groups who generally fight insurgency in their environments) to complement the Nigerian Armed Forces fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
Despite arguments from Hon. Monguno, which included some of the successes of the CJTF, lawmakers expressed scepticism on the grave implications that a positive resolution of the motion could bear on the proliferation of small arms and its regulation.
The motion was also stepped down after Hon. Pwajok advised lawmakers to avoid any contradiction with the Armed Forces Act, which prohibits the handling of small arms by persons outside the Armed Forces.