The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has called for a review of National Assembly expenditures as a way to redirect funds toward addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Ndume suggested that lawmakers should reconsider spending on areas that do not directly benefit the majority of citizens, urging a focus on public safety.
“Urgently, we must discard everything as far as I am concerned and even if it is necessary to shut down some discretionary services,” he said.
The senator addressed concerns about potential backlash from colleagues over the proposal, citing his long experience in the legislature.
“I have been in trouble many times before. I am not saying we should shut down the National Assembly, and it is not because anyone has scared me.
“What I am saying is that, realistically, our house is on fire, and we need to do everything necessary to put that fire out. So, if that means the National Assembly must scale back its activities, receive less pay, and redirect funds to security, I am confident many of my colleagues will agree,” Ndume added.
Speaking on the issue of security personnel pay, Ndume highlighted the historically low salaries of Nigeria’s armed forces and other security agencies.
He noted that before President Tinubu assumed office, the basic salary of a private soldier was just 50,000 Naira.
“Now, the salary has been increased to 104,000 Naira recently, thanks to Mr President…One thing you can’t take away from Nigerians, many Nigerians believe in Nigeria. Many Nigerians are committed, especially our army and even security agencies. But a man must survive. How can you pay somebody 50,000 and expect him to put in his best?”
He added that even salaries of 100,000 Naira remain insufficient, stressing the urgent need for wage increments across the armed forces and other security agencies.
He further highlighted that civil defence and immigration personnel are also underpaid, pointing to the stark disparity between frontline security workers and top government officials.
Comparing their salaries with those of legislators, he remarked, “A senator, you know how much they pay senators?”
Ndume further expressed concern over recurrent spending, noting that while the 2025 budget has yet to be implemented, overhead costs continue to rise.
“We sit for some time depending on the workload that we have, and are paid accordingly. And now, the 2025 budget is not running; we are in 2025, but the recurrent and overhead costs are running, and who is benefiting? Less than five per cent of Nigerians, and it is a lot of money. So, why don’t we shut down all these things and use the money to secure the people first?” he stated.
He also raised concerns about Nigeria’s limited technological capacity to tackle security threats, pointing out that the country operates only a handful of satellites, which he says are insufficient for effective surveillance.
“You know that one of the fundamental problems we have in the security sector is that we don’t have the ability to track criminals in real time, and the satellite we are talking about, Nigeria has only four and one has issues,” Ndume said.
Ndume highlighted recent incidents as examples of how inadequate tracking infrastructure hampers national security.
“Why were we not able to trace the general who was missing in action? It was because we don’t have adequate tracking systems,” he added.
His statement comes amid rising attacks and abductions by gunmen and suspected terrorists, prompting President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday to declare a nationwide security emergency.
Tinubu also announced plans for additional recruitment into the Nigerian Armed Forces and the police.
“Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces.
“By this declaration, the police and the army are authorised to recruit more personnel. The police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000,” he said in a statement he personally signed.
Credit: punchng.com
