Reps vow to ensure accountability in security spending

Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The House of Representatives has said it will ensure that there is accountability in the management of funds appropriated for security agencies in the country.
The chairman House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, who stated this in a statement on Sunday, assured all security agencies of the readiness of the House to work with them and support them.
Benson noted that in line with its recent resolution to provide special funding for the security agencies, outside the annual appropriations, the Green chamber is ready to give all the necessary support to the security agencies to boost their performances..
Regardless, he noted that in as much as the House is committed to collaborating with the various security agencies in improving the state of the country’s security, the agencies must live up to their responsibilities of protecting lives and property.
The lawmaker added that his committee in the discharge of its oversight functions, will ensure that funds appropriated for the security agencies were well utilised.
According to him, “on our part, we will work assiduously to ensure that all the operational needs of the security agencies are met through adequate budgetary provisions. This is a new era, and Nigerians will not accept anything less than good results from us all.
“We will also ensure adequate and attentive oversight, especially of the 2019 budget so that we can evaluate the progress of work for ourselves and come up with the necessary ways of improving things as we prepare to receive the 2020 budget.
“I therefore, enjoin all the security agencies under the House Committee on Defence to be up and doing. They should be as open as possible to us as parliamentarians, and we would do the same to them.
“We are not unmindful of the enormous tasks ahead of us and the high expectations of Nigerians from us. We have no reason not to deliver. We must get things right as far as security is concerned in this country.
“We acknowledge that the military needs the support of every sector of the society and we all, from traditional rulers, the media, and citizens, have a critical role to play in assisting the country achieve a secure society,” Hon. Benson said.
“I want to call on the security agencies to be ready to cooperate with us as a committee. We are here to work for Nigerians, to ensure the protection of their lives and property. Of course, the security of the people is paramount, that is why we call on the security agencies to cooperate with us.”