Borno South Senator Ali Ndume has urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that funds approved for the recent salary increase for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces are transferred directly to the military.
Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, said the move would ensure that the funds get to the intended beneficiaries and further motivate military personnel involved in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
The senator made the call in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to the President’s recent approval of a salary increase for about 250,000 personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Ndume described the salary review as a positive step that showed that Tinubu had a clear plan to address insecurity in the country.
He, however, stressed the need for proper handling of the funds to ensure that the increased pay reached soldiers and other military personnel directly.
“The President should ensure direct transfer of these funds for the military,” Ndume said.
The senator linked the salary increase to the recent expansion of the Nigerian military’s operational structure, saying the decision to increase the number of military divisions from eight to 12 showed that the administration was taking steps to strengthen the fight against insecurity.
He said the combination of better pay and an expanded military structure could improve the country’s response to terrorism and banditry.
“The review of salary will go a long way in motivating our military personnel. I have been in the vanguard of better motivation for our men and officers in the military in terms of a decent living wage,” he said.
Ndume also praised Tinubu for responding to concerns raised over the welfare of military personnel.
“President Tinubu has once again proved that he is a responsive leader who doesn’t shut his mind to genuine and legitimate agitation of Nigerians,” he said.
The salary increase is expected to affect a large number of personnel serving in the Army, Navy and Air Force. Improved pay has long been a major issue in discussions about the welfare and motivation of Nigeria’s security forces, especially those deployed in areas affected by terrorism and armed banditry.
Military personnel have faced difficult conditions in several parts of the country, including the North-East, where the insurgency has continued for more than a decade.
The conflict, which began with the rise of Boko Haram, has resulted in thousands of deaths, displacement of communities and destruction of homes and public infrastructure. Although military operations have weakened insurgent groups in several areas, attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have continued.
Banditry and other forms of violent crime have also expanded in parts of the North-West and North-Central regions, placing additional pressure on the military and other security agencies.
Against this background, Ndume said the salary increase should be accompanied by other measures needed to improve the operational capacity of the armed forces.
He warned that better pay alone would not be enough to defeat insurgency and other security threats.
According to him, the government must also ensure the prompt supply of arms, ammunition and other logistics required by troops in the field.
“Better pay alone will not win the war against insurgency,” the senator said, stressing the need for adequate equipment and other support for military personnel.
The call for improved military welfare and equipment comes as the Federal Government continues to face pressure to strengthen the country’s security response.
The government has in recent years increased spending on security, while the military has also undergone reforms aimed at improving its ability to respond to threats across the country.
Last week’s expansion of military divisions from eight to 12 was presented as part of efforts to improve the Army’s operational reach and response to security challenges.
For Ndume, however, the success of such measures will depend on effective funding, proper equipment and the welfare of the personnel expected to carry out military operations.
He therefore urged the President to ensure that the approved funds are properly managed and transferred directly to the military, while also ensuring that troops receive the weapons, ammunition and other logistics required to carry out their duties.
The senator’s comments also highlight the wider debate over how best to motivate security personnel while improving accountability in the management of public funds.
As the government continues its efforts to tackle terrorism, banditry and other security threats, stakeholders have repeatedly stressed that military personnel must be adequately trained, equipped and motivated.
Ndume said the salary review was a welcome development but urged the administration not to stop at improved pay.
He maintained that the welfare of troops and the provision of adequate equipment must remain key parts of the government’s strategy to restore peace and security across the country.