…commends Tinubu over military salary increase

Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday renewed his call for the Armed Forces to be placed on First-line Charge to guarantee timely access to funds for arms, ammunition, logistics and other operational requirements.

Ndume, who is a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, however  commended President Bola Tinubu for approving salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, saying the development would boost the morale of troops fighting terrorism and banditry across the country.

President Tinubu had last week approved the salary review for about 250,000 personnel of the Armed Forces, with the new rates expected to take effect next month.

Under the new arrangement, the annual salary bill for military personnel is expected to rise from N660 billion to N924 billion.

While officers above the rank of colonel, including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals, will receive a 30 per cent increase, personnel from the rank of colonel to warrant officer will get a 50 per cent increase.

Similarly, personnel from the rank of private to staff sergeant will receive an 80 per cent salary increase.

Reacting to the development, Ndume described the salary review as a welcome development, saying it would go a long way in motivating military personnel and improving their welfare.

The senator said the decision, coming on the heels of the recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12, demonstrated the President’s commitment to tackling terrorism and banditry.

“This coming after his recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12 shows that Mr President has his own blueprint aimed at dealing with the scourge of terrorism and banditry,” he said.

“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 decent living wage.

“President Tinubu has again proved that he is a responsive leader who doesn’t shut his mind to genuine and legitimate agitation of Nigerians.”

Ndume, while applauding the salary increase, stressed that improved welfare alone would not be sufficient to enable the Armed Forces effectively confront the security challenges facing the country.

He urged the President to ensure adequate and prompt provision of arms, ammunition, military equipment and other logistics required by troops in the theatre of operations.

“I have always argued that aside from welfare package, what they need to deal with insurgents, aside better welfare package and training, is prompt supply of arms and ammunition,” he said.

“I also want to urge Mr President to keep up his pledge on the provision of weapons and technological tools required for the Armed Forces to effectively discharge their duties.”

The former Senate Leader argued that placing the Armed Forces on First-line Charge would help eliminate bureaucratic delays associated with the release of funds through the existing envelope budgeting system.

“All these can be achieved seamlessly if we put their annual budget on First-line Charge. This envelope budgeting is trapped in unnecessary bureaucracy between the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance. It is a big encumbrance to effective operations of our men and officers in the war theatre,” Ndume said.

He therefore urged Tinubu to take advantage of the ongoing reforms to introduce direct statutory funding for the military from the Federation Account, similar to the arrangement for some government agencies.

“Mr President should seize the initiative to ensure direct statutory transfer from the Federation Account for the military as it is done with few agencies of government,” he added.