Army Can’t Fight Terrorists, Bandits And Other Criminals With N579bn – COAS Farouk Yahaya Tells Senate
According to the Nigerian Army, the N579 billion budgeted for the Nigerian Army in the 2022 budget is insufficient to combat terrorism and banditry in the country.
On Wednesday, November 3, Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Farouk Yahaya testified before the Senate Committee on the Army to defend the 2022 budget.
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In his words
“In preparing for year 2022 budget, the Nigerian Army proposed about the sum of N710bn. However, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning budget ceiling reduced it to N579bn. This reduction would impede the capacity and tempo of the Nigerian Army in carrying out its constitutional duties particularly the ongoing war against Boko Haram terrorists and other criminalties across the country.
The National Assembly should prevail on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to exempt the Nigerian Army from the current budget ceiling or envelope allocation system.
I therefore passionately appeal to this (Senate) committee to impress it on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to begin the release of year 2022 Nigerian Army capital budget from the First Quarter 2022.
This would help the Nigerian Army to rehabilitate dilapidated accommodations in over 138 barracks and training facilities across our units, and formations as well as procure the needed equipment and platforms to prosecute the war against terrorism and other criminalities across the country.”
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The Senate panel was advised by the Chief of Army Staff to grant a sum of N642.7bn as the Nigerian Amry personnel emolument for the 2022 budget. He also demanded the grant of N29.6bn as overhead cost and N37.6bn as capital expenditure.
Speaking further, Yahaya said
“The timely and complete implementation of the 2022 budget will thus enhance the fulfilment of the Nigerian Army’s constitutional mandate and thus engender peace for socioeconomic development of our country Nigeria.” Yahaya said.
Photo Credit: Getty