Senator Ali Ndume is asking President Bola Tinubu to change how the military gets funded.
Speaking on Monday, the Borno South senator said the current process of routing the Armed Forces’ annual budget through the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance is slowing down operations in the field.
“All these can be achieved seamlessly if we put their annual budget on First Line Charge,” Ndume said. “This envelope budgeting is trapped in unnecessary bureaucracy between the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance. It is a big encumbrance to effective operations of our men and officers in the war theatre.”
He wants the president to adopt direct statutory transfers from the Federation Account to the military, the same model used for a few other government agencies.
Ndume also praised Tinubu’s recent approval of salary increases for about 250,000 personnel. Officers above the rank of colonel will get 30%, those from colonel down to warrant officer will get 50%, and ranks from private to staff sergeant will get 80%.
He said the pay raise, coming after Tinubu expanded military divisions from 8 to 12, shows the president has a clear plan to tackle terrorism and banditry.
“The review of salary will go a long way in motivating our military personnel. I have been in the vanguard of better motivation for our men and officers in the military in terms of decent living wage,” Ndume said.
But he warned that money alone isn’t enough. According to him, troops also need prompt supply of weapons, ammunition, logistics and training.
“I have always argued that aside from welfare package, what they need to deal with insurgents, aside better welfare package and training, is prompt supply of arms and ammunition,” he said.
Ndume urged Tinubu to follow through on his pledge to equip the Armed Forces with the weapons and technology needed to fight insecurity effectively.
