Yuceelanda.com
Against the backdrop of recent deadly attacks
carried out in some towns in Borno State by
Boko Haram, the nation’s Service Chiefs have
opened up to the leadership of the Senate why
they have been unable to successfully prosecute
the insurgency war.
They complained of lack of funds to buy
equipment and also, lamented the failure of the
Federal Government to release funds
appropriated for the prosecution of war in the
2015 budget.
These factors were revealed to the Senate
leadership and disclosed by the office of Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in a statement
yesterday. The closed-door meeting between the
service chiefs and top senators, which lasted for
about two hours on Wednesday was presided
over by the Senate President.
Saraki said several issues tailored at further
empowering the security agencies to win the war
against Boko Haram were discussed in a frank
and open exchange between the two sides.
The military chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence
Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, reportedly
briefed the lawmakers on the various challenges
faced by the military, particularly the state of
their equipment which they said required serious
upgrading and restocking.
“They also complained that their vote in the 2015
supplementary budget has not been released
thereby hampering their ability to fund their
operations. Other issues that came up for
discussion were the need to continuously
increase the personnel in the three branches of
the military and the hindrance posed by the
procurement process which they said is very
slow,” Saraki stated in the statement.
“The military chiefs also canvassed the need for
the review of some laws governing their
operations so as to make them able to respond
to emergency situations they now confront in the
North-east zone as well as conform with global
best practices,” he further noted.
The need for regional support for the fight
against insurgency in the North-East by the
neighbouring countries, resettlement of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their traditional
homes, the issue of intelligence gathering and
sharing among the various agencies and
mobilisation of the international community,
particularly through inter-parliamentary efforts in
support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria,
were also discussed during the meeting.
The Senators assured the military chiefs that
they will fast track the request for the review of
the relevant laws being complained about by
putting them on the Priority Bills list once they
were given adequate information on areas that
need to be amended.
They also promised to take up the issue of
release of funds raised by the military chiefs
with the Ministry of Finance immediately.
Committees on Defence, Finance and
Appropriations have also been mandated to
ensure that the issues raised by the service
chiefs are taken care of in the budget.
The Senators noted that at this point when the
nation had recorded serious gains in the fight
against insurgency, all hands should be on deck
to sustain the tempo against the violent groups.
The meeting was particularly attended by Saraki,
his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate
Leader, Ali Ndume, Deputy Majority Whip, Francis
Alimikhena, Chairman, Senate Committee on
Navy, Isa Hamma Misau and his colleague in the
Committee on Air Force, Duro Faseyi. However,
Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence,
Senator Ahmed Lawan was absent.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonishakin
led the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur
Buratai, his colleague in the Navy, Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ette Ibas and the Air Force, Air Marshal
Sadiq Abubakar to the meeting.
Against the backdrop of recent deadly attacks
carried out in some towns in Borno State by
Boko Haram, the nation’s Service Chiefs have
opened up to the leadership of the Senate why
they have been unable to successfully prosecute
the insurgency war.
They complained of lack of funds to buy
equipment and also, lamented the failure of the
Federal Government to release funds
appropriated for the prosecution of war in the
2015 budget.
These factors were revealed to the Senate
leadership and disclosed by the office of Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in a statement
yesterday. The closed-door meeting between the
service chiefs and top senators, which lasted for
about two hours on Wednesday was presided
over by the Senate President.
Saraki said several issues tailored at further
empowering the security agencies to win the war
against Boko Haram were discussed in a frank
and open exchange between the two sides.
The military chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence
Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, reportedly
briefed the lawmakers on the various challenges
faced by the military, particularly the state of
their equipment which they said required serious
upgrading and restocking.
“They also complained that their vote in the 2015
supplementary budget has not been released
thereby hampering their ability to fund their
operations. Other issues that came up for
discussion were the need to continuously
increase the personnel in the three branches of
the military and the hindrance posed by the
procurement process which they said is very
slow,” Saraki stated in the statement.
“The military chiefs also canvassed the need for
the review of some laws governing their
operations so as to make them able to respond
to emergency situations they now confront in the
North-east zone as well as conform with global
best practices,” he further noted.
The need for regional support for the fight
against insurgency in the North-East by the
neighbouring countries, resettlement of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their traditional
homes, the issue of intelligence gathering and
sharing among the various agencies and
mobilisation of the international community,
particularly through inter-parliamentary efforts in
support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria,
were also discussed during the meeting.
The Senators assured the military chiefs that
they will fast track the request for the review of
the relevant laws being complained about by
putting them on the Priority Bills list once they
were given adequate information on areas that
need to be amended.
They also promised to take up the issue of
release of funds raised by the military chiefs
with the Ministry of Finance immediately.
Committees on Defence, Finance and
Appropriations have also been mandated to
ensure that the issues raised by the service
chiefs are taken care of in the budget.
The Senators noted that at this point when the
nation had recorded serious gains in the fight
against insurgency, all hands should be on deck
to sustain the tempo against the violent groups.
The meeting was particularly attended by Saraki,
his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate
Leader, Ali Ndume, Deputy Majority Whip, Francis
Alimikhena, Chairman, Senate Committee on
Navy, Isa Hamma Misau and his colleague in the
Committee on Air Force, Duro Faseyi. However,
Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence,
Senator Ahmed Lawan was absent.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonishakin
led the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur
Buratai, his colleague in the Navy, Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ette Ibas and the Air Force, Air Marshal
Sadiq Abubakar to the meeting.
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