From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has solicited for adequate funding for the Nigerian Army to boost its operational efficiency and take the welfare of its officers and soldiers.
Gen. Oluyede, said this has become necessary as a result of the security challenges bedeviling the country and the growing demands of the Nigerian army participation in internal security operations to curb the menace.
Oluyede made the appeal, when he received members of the Senate Committee on Army, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The COAS, who commended the committee members for its oversight functions and ongoing support to the Army, lamented that the current funding mechanisms, particularly the envelope budgeting system, were inadequate to meet the needs of the Nigerian.
He said “As we speak, the Army is still challenged in terms of operational efficiency. This year alone, we are expecting about 13,000 new personnel, but there are no corresponding resources to provide accommodation for them. We still have soldiers not being accommodated, and that number will continue to grow,” the Army chief said.
Gen. Oluyede, urged the committee to consider creating special funding provisions for the Army outside the envelope budgeting structure, to enable it to provide the required combat support and welfare infrastructure.
He said “We are not only looking at maybe insecurity within, but what if someday we are challenged from outside. So I want to pray that, please look at that, and at the same time, look at how we can get special funds for us to provide accommodation for our soldiers. It’s very critical,”.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, while acknowledging the constraints of the funds facing the Army, especially with the security challenges, reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to advocate for improved budgetary allocations.
He said, “The Nigerian Army and Armed Forces should be taken out of the envelope budgeting system, so they have more funds to carry out their mandate. We’ve seen the need during our oversight visits.”
He told the army chief that the committee had split into two groups to inspect Army formations in Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Lagos states. He said the exercise was conducted in line with the Constitution and Senate rules, aimed at ensuring effective use of appropriated funds.
He further stated that while most projects visited were progressing well with some already completed, there were concerns about a few, which had been brought to the attention of the Army leadership.
He also said that the committee plans another round of oversight before the end of the year to assess the implementation of the 2025 Appropriations Act.
“We want to assure the Chief of Army Staff of our continued support and collaboration with the executive to ensure the Army is adequately funded,”.
