TheCable

Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, says there is a need for an increased budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Army to cater to the welfare of military personnel and their families.

Uzodinma spoke on Monday when he received members of the house of representatives committee on the army at the government house in Owerri, the state capital.

The lawmakers were on an oversight visit to Imo.

The governor pleaded with the national assembly to consider giving the army the necessary support to encourage the personnel to discharge their duties effectively.

He added that the welfare of military personnel should be of utmost priority to the federal government and national assembly for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

“Recently, some military officers lost their lives to banditry, leaving behind orphans, widows, and family dependents. Such persons need support and assistance from the federal and state governments,” Uzodinma said.

“This is to cushion the effect of the problems those families living in the barracks may be facing. People like this need empowerment, power supply, means of transportation, and even skill acquisition to survive the vagaries of life they go through.”

Uzodimma urged the Nigerian Army to provide necessary support to the south-east, noting that the region has recently faced a series of insecurity challenges.

The governor commended the synergy between the army and other security agencies, noting that it has become necessary to tackle insecurity in the state.