Put military budget on first-line charge, Ndume tells FG

Senator Ali Ndume, formerly the head of the Senate's Army Committee, has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the Nigerian Armed Forces' annual budget for swift funding. Ndume criticized the current budgeting system, which he claims creates unnecessary delays between the defense and finance ministries, hindering the effectiveness of troops combating terrorism and banditry.

He commended the salary increases, which range from 30% to 80%, for selected categories of military personnel, effective next month. The salary boost, affecting around 250,000 personnel, is seen as a morale booster and aligns with Ndume's advocacy for better living wages for military personnel. Ndume emphasized that the salary increase, coupled with the recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12, indicates the president's commitment to addressing insecurity.

He stressed that improved welfare should be matched with the prompt provision of necessary military resources, including weapons, ammunition, and technological tools. Ndume called for the military budget to be placed on First-Line Charge, a system that would guarantee timely access to funds and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks.

He proposed a direct statutory funding arrangement for the military, akin to some government agencies, to bolster the security forces' ability to respond swiftly to security threats nationwide.