The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has appealed for improved funding for the Nigerian Army, citing the growing demands of operational efficiency and personnel welfare.

Oluyede made the appeal on Thursday during a visit by the Senate Committee on Army to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

He commended the committee for its oversight and ongoing support to the Army but stressed that current funding mechanisms, particularly the envelope budgeting system, were inadequate to meet the Army’s needs.

“As we speak, the Army is still challenged in terms of operational efficiency. This year alone, we are expecting about 13,000 new personnel, but there are no corresponding resources to provide accommodation for them. We still have soldiers not being accommodated, and that number will continue to grow,” the Army chief said.

He urged the committee to consider creating special funding provisions for the Army outside the envelope budgeting structure, to enable it to provide the required combat support and welfare infrastructure.

“We are not only looking at maybe insecurity within, but what if someday we are challenged from outside. So I want to pray that, please look at that, and at the same time, look at how we can get special funds for us to provide accommodation for our soldiers. It’s very critical,” he added.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, acknowledged the Army’s funding constraints and reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to advocating for improved budgetary allocations.

He said, “The Nigerian Army and Armed Forces should be taken out of the envelope budgeting system, so they have more funds to carry out their mandate. We’ve seen the need during our oversight visits.”

Yar’Adua disclosed that the committee had split into two groups to inspect Army formations in Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Lagos states. He said the exercise was conducted in line with the Constitution and Senate rules, aimed at ensuring effective use of appropriated funds.

He noted that while most projects visited were progressing well with some already completed, there were concerns about a few, which had been brought to the attention of the Army leadership.

“We want to assure the Chief of Army Staff of our continued support and collaboration with the executive to ensure the Army is adequately funded,” Yar’Adua stated.

He added that the committee plans another round of oversight before the end of the year to assess the implementation of the 2025 Appropriations Act. We lost 340 cattle to rustlers in July, says Benue Miyetti Allah (The PUNCH)