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From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The sum of 789.2 Billion naira (Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Three Million, One Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Eleven Naira ,N789,273,147,211.00) has been proposed by the Nigerian Army as its 2024 budgetary expenditure.
At its joint budget Defense meeting with the Senate and House of Representatives committee on Army chaired by Abdulaziz Yar’adua and Abdullahi Mamudu respectively on Thursday, the Nigerian Army urged the Senate not to prune the proposed sum saying that such Action would hamper its constitutional responsibilities.
Persuading the National Assembly to grant it’s assent to the planned expenditure,Chief of Army Staff , Lieutenant General TA Labgaja who was physically present alongside top brass of the Nigerian Military stressed need to sustain the momentum of gains achieved in the ongoing war against Boko Haram Terrorists and other criminalities across the country.
Labgaja drew the attention of the Lawmakers that it initially requested the National Assembly to appropriate the sum of 51.007 Billion naira (Fifty One Billion, Seven Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, Five Naira, N51,007,439,005,00) to provide accommodation for its men. However, only the sum of 20.2 Billion naira ( Twenty Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Five, Two Hundred and Thirty six Naira, N20,230, 475, 236,00) was included in the Year 2024 Appropriation Bill which led to a deficit of 30.77 Billion naira (Thirty Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Six Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira (N30, 776,963,769.00)
Appeals were however made by the Army Chief to the Lawmakers for the Shortfall of the 30.776 Billion naira to be added to the Army’s 2024 budget for capital.
Labgaja prevailed on the Senators; “I want to passionately appeal to these Committees to impress on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to begin the release of Year 2024 Nigerian Army Capital Budget in First Quarter 2024.
“These would help in the rehabilitation of dilapidated accommodation and training facilities across NA units/formatons. It would also assist in the early procurement of the needed equipment and platforms required to prosecute the war against terrorism and other criminalities across the country.
An insight into the 2024 Budgetary request provided by Army revealed that the sum of 789.2 Billion naira (Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Three Million, One Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Eleven Naira, N789,273,147,211.00) is needed for Nigerian Army Personnel Emolument. While the sum of 45.270 Billion naira (Forty Five Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Three’ Naira, N45,270,815,473.00) and is required for Nigerian Army overhead budget cost and the sum of 138.749 Billion is needed for (One Hundred and Thirty Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Forty Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Five Naira ,N138, 749,954,855.00) its 2024 Capital Budget.
Another appeal made by the Military was the need for the National Assembly to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to expedite the release of Year 2024 Nigerian Army Capital Budget in the First Quarter 2024. Labgaja also urged the National Assembly to facilitate the passage of the Armed Forces Support Trust Fund Bill.
In an earlier address Labgaja appreciated the Committees of both legislative chambers for what he described as unwavering support given to the Nigerian Army in the past years.
Speaking on the budget Labgaja said ; “Though, this is my second time of officially defending the Nigerian Army Budget. It is therefore my fervent prayer that the existing cordial working relationship between the Nigerian Army and these Distinguished Committees would translate into a favourable and speedy approval of the Nigerian Army Year 2024 Budget proposal.
Giving an insight into the details of the proposed 2024 expenditure , Labgaja hinted that the Nigerian Army’s Year 2024 Budget proposal was prepared based on the need to sustain the tempo in the fight against insurgency and other Violent Non-state Actors.
He said; “When I took over the leadership of the Nigerian Army in June 2023, I crafted my Command philosophy which is To Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well-trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force towards achieving our Constitutional Responsibilities within a Joint Environment”. My Command philosophy was built on 3 main pillars which are leadership, operational effectiveness and administration.
The Senate Army committee Chairman , Abdulaziz Yar’adua in his remark commended the courage of the Army in fighting insecurity in the country. Speaking of the unfortunate military drone strike that killed 85 civilians in Tudun Biri village of Kaduna state, Yar’adua appreciated the Army for taking responsibility just as he tasked them to be more proactive to avoid future recurrence.
“We pray that God guides our Military so that such occurrences happen in the future. On the Budget Yar’adua assured of the National Assembly’s support.
He said; “We on our path make sure we do what it takes especially with the insecurity of this nation and we will be transparent in dealing with the two budgets presented to us here.
“And I want to thank you for taking responsibility for what happened. This is a time for sober self-reflection . Incidents like this occur during war and I want to assure Nigerians that investigations are going to get to the root of the matter.
On his part House Committee chairman on Army, Abdullahi Mamudu also commended the Army for owning up to its error, just as he urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the capacity of the Military to secure the Nation. On the Budget Mamudu promised the National Assembly’s resolve to look at the loopholes in the budget he said; “We will within our limits look at the budget critically.
“What I mean is that we will do our best and look at the loopholes of the budget to provide for you to discharge your Constitutional duty. It is important to support our Army regardless of what happened. And in so doing the members of the Army committee at the House of Representatives will give you all the necessary support to discharge your Constitutional responsibility to serve the nation.
