Ndume to Tinubu: Place military budget on first-line charge

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has called on President Bola Tinubu to place the annual budget of the Nigerian Armed Forces on First-Line Charge to ensure timely funding of military operations.

Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, said the current envelope budgeting system had created bureaucratic delays between the Ministries of Defence and Finance, affecting the ability of troops to effectively combat terrorism and banditry.

He made the call in a statement while commending Tinubu for approving salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for some categories of military personnel, effective next month.

The senator said the salary review, which would affect about 250,000 personnel, would improve the morale and welfare of members of the Armed Forces.

Ndume said the salary increase, coming alongside the expansion of military divisions from eight to 12, demonstrated the administration’s commitment to addressing insecurity.

“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,” he said.

He, however, stressed that improved welfare must be matched with adequate and timely provision of weapons, ammunition, technology and other logistics required by troops in combat.

“I also want to urge Mr President to keep up his pledge on the provision of weapons and technological tools required by the Armed Forces to effectively discharge their duties,” he said.

Ndume argued that making the military budget a First-Line Charge would remove funding bottlenecks and give commanders quicker access to resources needed for operations.

“All these can be achieved seamlessly if we put their annual budget on First-Line Charge. This envelope budgeting is trapped in unnecessary bureaucracy between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Finance,” he said.

He described the existing arrangement as a major impediment to military operations, particularly for troops deployed in conflict zones.

The senator therefore urged the President to consider direct statutory funding for the Armed Forces from the Federation Account, similar to funding arrangements applicable to some government agencies.

According to him, the measure would enhance the military’s financial autonomy and strengthen its ability to respond swiftly to security threats across the country.