The Nigerian Army reiterated its appeal on Thursday for the Force to be withdrawn from the country’s general finance structure.
Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, made the request when defending the Nigerian army’s budget proposal before a joint budget Defence session, explaining that the system has continued to foster massive underfunding of the Army.
He also asked the National Assembly to move the Armed Forces Trust Fund bill before the expiry of the 10th Assembly.
This according to him would bring efficiency and the required manpower, including the expansion of the theater of operations of the army.
The committee observed a minute silence, after which the COAS again expressed regrets over the Kaduna accidental drone bombing, describing it as an error.
Calling for sober reflection, the joint committee assured that investigations are ongoing to unravel the true situation of the matter, while also observing that the welfare of personnel of the Nigerian army should be given topmost priority in the budget, to ensure the army effectively tackles the nation’s security challenges.