Insecurity: Senate Blames Finance Ministry’s for Poor Funding of Military

The Nigerian Senate has accused the Finance Ministry of frustrating the military’s efforts at combating insecurity in the country.

Galaxy’s Godfrey Eshiemoghie reports that the Senate through its Committee on Army said the non-release of funds appropriated for the military remains a major problem.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ali Ndume voiced his displeasure at the failure of the Minister for Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to show and give details of spending for Operation Lafiya Dole and Haderin Daji since 2019.

The Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry who explained the extent of releases made for the two military operations assured that the releases have been up to date, with an additional N19billion release made Wednesday.

From the presentation of the Minister’s representative, the Committee noted inconsistencies in the records of the Finance Ministry.

The Senate Committee subsequently mandated the Finance Minister, the Chief of Army Staff, along with other service chiefs to appear before the Committee not later than Tuesday the 4^th of May to explain the extent of releases to the military.