KEHINDE AKINTOLA
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai on Wednesday kicked
against Federal Government’s envelope allocation of N232.4 billion in the 2019 Appropriation bill being considered by the House of
Representatives.
Buratai who frowned at the insensitivity of the Nigerian authorities
to the enormous task ahead of the Nigerian Army Amidst security
challenges facing the country, appealed to the
House Committee on Army to jettison the proposal submitted by the Presidency.
According to him, for 2019 fiscal year, the sum of N350.5 billion was
proposed Personnel Emolument; N43.6 billion for Overhead while N78.5
billion was proposed for Capital expenditure.
“The National Assembly should prevail on the Ministry of Budget and
National Planning to exempt the Nigerian Army from the existing budget
ceiling or envelope allocation system in view of the ongoing
structural changes, volatile security environment and massive
engagement of troops in virtually all the 36 states of the
Federation.”
The Army Chief noted that the Nigerian Army has for years grappled
with fund insufficiency and has remained resilient but dedicated to
the discharge of its constitutional roles.
He noted that the Nigerian Army was able to cope with the financial
constraints due to the relative peaceful environment across the
country prior to the re-emergence of insurgency and other hostile
activities of Violent Non-State Actors.
Buratai informed that in a bid to effectively tackle the issue of
insecurity around the country, the Nigeria Army has increased its
divisions from five to eight, and established Nigerian Army Special
Forces Command, Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Special
Intelligence Command, Land Forces Simulation Centre and Nigerian Army
Aviation, regardless of inadequate allocation.
“Please, recall that since the beginning of 2015, the activities of
the Violent Non-State Actors have exacerbated in various regions
across our dear country. In response to these, the Nigerian Army has
expanded from 5 Divisions to 8 Divisions and is currently engaged in
war against Boko Haram Terrorists and Internal Security operations in
virtually all the 36 states of the Federation.
“It is also pertinent to note that the Nigerian Army has established
Nigerian Army Special Forces Command, Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare
Command, Special Intelligence Command, Land Forces Simulation Centre
and Nigerian Army Aviation amongst others. These commitments, have
extended our core constitutional role, and have impacted significantly
on our human and material assets. This is in addition to inadequate
budget allocation and the subsisting envelope budget system.
On the performance of the 2018 budget, the army chief informed that
“the percentage performance of Nigerian Army Budget Personnel
Emolument was 100 percent, Overhead was 100 percent and Capital was
91.69 percent. It is in the light of this that I make bold to say that
the budget has performed reasonably well.”
On the 2019 budget, Buratai said that while it requested for the sum
of N472.8 billion, the Ministry of Budget and National Planning
proposed the total sum of N232.4 billion only.
He consequently prayed the committee to approve the following in the
2019 budget: “the sum of N350.5 billion should be approved for
Nigerian Army Personnel Emolument; the sum of N43.6 billion should be
approved for Overhead Budget; the sum of N78.5 billion should be
approved for Capital Budget.
Additionally, Buratai urged the lawmakers to change the 40 percent
second instalment payment for purchase of 3 x LUH AS-350 for Nigerian
Army Aviation with the procurement of Armoured Personnel Carrier ‘A’
Vehicles.
The Army Chief pledged the commitment of the Nigerian Army toward
“securing the territorial integrity of Nigeria from any violation and
the timely and complete implementation of 2019 Budget Will thus
enhance the fulfilment of this mandate.”
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