By Opeyemi Adelakun
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has called on President Bola Tinubu to complement the newly approved salary increases for military personnel with reforms that will guarantee faster access to funds, weapons and operational equipment.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the improved remuneration would boost the morale of officers and soldiers, but warned that better pay alone would not be enough to defeat terrorism and banditry.
The Federal Government recently approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, with the new rates expected to take effect next month.
Under the approved adjustment, personnel from the rank of private to staff sergeant are to receive an 80 per cent increase, while officers from colonel down to warrant officer will receive 50 per cent. Officers above the rank of colonel are to receive a 30 per cent increase.
The adjustment is expected to raise the Armed Forces’ annual wage bill from about N660bn to N924bn.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Ndume commended Tinubu, describing the salary review as an important step towards improving the welfare and morale of troops.
He said the increase, coming alongside the expansion of military divisions from eight to 12, indicated that the administration was taking steps towards addressing the country’s security challenges.
“The review of salary will go a long way in motivating our military personnel. I have been in the vanguard of better motivation for our men and officers in the military in terms of decent living wage,” Ndume said.
The senator, however, stressed that the welfare package must be accompanied by adequate operational support if troops are to effectively confront insurgents and bandits.
According to him, the military requires the timely provision of arms, ammunition, logistics and modern technological equipment to perform its duties effectively.
“I have always argued that aside better welfare package and training, what they need to deal with insurgents is prompt supply of arms and ammunition,” he said.
Ndume also urged the President to honour his commitment to providing the Armed Forces with the weapons and technological tools required for modern security operations.
The former chairman of the Senate Committee on Army further proposed a fundamental change in the way military funds are released, arguing that bureaucratic bottlenecks between government ministries could undermine operations on the battlefield.
He called for the Armed Forces’ annual defence budget to be placed on First Line Charge, saying this would allow funds meant for military operations to be accessed without unnecessary administrative delays.
“This envelope budgeting is trapped in unnecessary bureaucracy between the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Finance. It is a big encumbrance to effective operations of our men and officers in the war theater,” Ndume said.
He argued that a direct statutory transfer from the Federation Account could provide the military with more predictable funding and reduce delays associated with the current budgetary process.
“Mr. President should seize the initiative to ensure direct statutory transfer from the Federation Account for the military as it is done with few agencies of government,” he added.
Ndume added that strengthening military welfare, funding and logistics would improve the capacity of security personnel to confront terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity threatening the country.
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