Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South and former Senate Chief Whip, has called on the newly confirmed Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), to lobby President Bola Tinubu to place the Nigerian Army on statutory first-line charge to guarantee direct and timely funding from the federation account.
In a statement issued on Wednesday shortly after Musa’s screening and confirmation by the Senate, Ndume said placing the military on statutory transfers (just like INEC, National Assembly, UBEC and NDDC) would eliminate bureaucratic delays that currently hamper equipment procurement and operations, especially in active conflict zones.
“Prompt disbursement of funds is very important. He should ensure that the military gets its capital budget in full, because if they don’t get the funds, operations will suffer,” Ndume said.
“Security of lives and property is very important. There should be no justification for delay in the release of funds for the military for procurement and its other strategic needs.”
Ndume, a long-time advocate for improved military funding, congratulated Musa on his appointment, which followed the resignation of the immediate-past minister, Abubakar Badaru, but stressed that the new minister’s top priority must be securing predictable and uninterrupted funding for the armed forces.
The senator also renewed his call for better welfare and remuneration for troops, noting that Nigerian soldiers “are not the best paid in the West African sub-region.”
“Something must be done urgently to convince them that we value the sacrifice they continue to make for the rest of us,” he added.
Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff, was screened and confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday and is expected to be sworn in soon.
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