2024 Budget: Reps pledge legislative support to combat insecurity

The House of Representatives, on Friday, assured of adequate legislative framework towards the fight against insurgency, banditry and other forms of insecurity in the country.

Members of the House of Reps Committee on Defence said this when the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Chris Musa and the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Major General John Ochayi appeared to defend the 2024 budget proposals of the military, (Defence).

The Reps commended the CDS for being proactive in the fight against banditry and insurgency across the country and the NDA Commandant for being professional and transparent in handling the affairs of the academy since his assumption of office in June this year.

Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese noted that the Armed Forces had made appreciable progress in taming the scourge of insecurity in Nigeria.

“We must acknowledge the laudable achievements in fighting terrorism, insurgency and banditry in Nigeria.

“Since you resumed as head of the Armed Forces under the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have proven to be a round peg in a round hole.

“You and your men have tackled insecurity head-on and we as lawmakers are proud of you; Nigerians are proud of you and I’m sure the President would be happy he didn’t make mistakes appointing you and others.

“We are equally proud of the NDA Commandant for the progress made so far at the academy. He is a professional, courageous and visionary officer”, Agbese said.

He, however, urged the Armed Forces to continue to improve on its operations and intelligence gathering.

On his part, the chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson assured that the legislative Committee would do all it could to ensure the fight against insecurity was won through legislative interventions.

He said, “We understand that you live in a very challenging situation.

“We understand that you need money for barracks, weapons, and aircraft, and funds are limited.”

Benson acknowledged that the defence sector was being underfunded and promised to liaise with the leadership of the House to see what more could be done to improve funding of the military.

In his remarks, the CDS thanked the lawmakers for acknowledging the efforts of the military, while pledging to thoroughly investigate the bombing incident in Kaduna.

He reiterated that, “it was a mistake, not deliberate, but we are taking steps to ensure that we address it and prevent it from reoccurring”.

On the support by the parliament, Musa added that, “security is everybody’s responsibility, not only ours.

“We are happy that you know our challenges and are ready and willing to assist, and we assure you that we will not take that for granted.

“Whatever support we can get to enhance our capability and capacity, we assure you, including all Nigerians, that we are ready to go forward, whatever it takes for us to ensure that there is peace in Nigeria, because it is not only for us; it is for our children and our children’s children.”