On Thursday, the Nigerian Army reiterated its plea for the Force to be excluded from the general system of funding in the country.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, presented the request during the defense of the Nigerian Army’s budget proposal in a joint budget Defense session.
He clarified that the current funding system has perpetuated severe underfunding of the Army.
General Lagbaja urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Armed Forces Trust Fund bill before the conclusion of the 10th Assembly. He argued that this legislative action would enhance efficiency, provide the necessary manpower, and enable the expansion of the army’s theater of operations.
During the session, a moment of silence was observed by the committee in response to the recent accidental drone bombing in Kaduna.
General Lagbaja expressed remorse for the incident, acknowledging it as an error. The joint committee assured a thorough investigation to uncover the facts surrounding the matter.
They emphasized that the welfare of Nigerian Army personnel should be prioritized in the budget to ensure the effective addressing of the nation’s security challenges.