Ndume to Christopher Musa: Push for army to be on first-line charge for direct funding

Ali Ndume, former senate leader, has asked Christopher Musa, defence minister, to advocate for placing the Nigerian Army on first-line charge for direct budgetary funding.

The senator representing Borno south gave the advice in a statement issued on Wednesday.

He said placing the military on statutory transfers would eliminate delays that hamper procurement of equipment and operations in conflict zones.

Musa, the former chief of defence staff (CDS), was screened and confirmed by the senate on Wednesday as minister of defence, replacing Abubakar Badaru, who resigned from the position on Monday.

Agencies on the first-line charge receive budgetary allocation directly from the federation account before other ministries, departments and agencies.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the national assembly, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are among those currently on statutory transfers.

Ndume said the military needs full and prompt release of its capital budget to effectively secure the country.

“While I commend him on his appointment, which most Nigerians have acknowledged that he deserves, he should convince his boss, the president and commander-in-chief, on the need to put the Nigerian army on the first-line charge,” he said.

“Aside from adequate funding of the army, navy and the air force, 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. 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 also asked Musa to prioritise the welfare and remuneration of military personnel.

“My position on better welfare for our armed forces is already in the public domain,” he added.

“They are not the best paid in the West African subregion. Something must be done urgently to convince them that we value the sacrifice they continue to make for the rest of us.”