Atiku seeks emergency on military funding

PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abukakar has called for national mourning over the reported killing by bandits of about 50 policemen in Zamfara State at the weekend.

A statement yesterday by Atiku’s media office conveyed his regrets and expressed pain to see those who have dedicated their lives to securing the country being senselessly cut down in their prime.

This came as a pro-democracy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), asked the National Assembly to pass a legislative framework, which will make funding of the defence sector as a first line charge to ensure efficient and effective roles by the military to stabilise national security.

HURIWA has also canvassed the creation of what it calls ‘War budgets’ and the time line for what national security objectives that must be achieved by a particular set of service chiefs and a specified tenure so other competent professional and combat tested and trusted military Generals are appointed to replace the serving military chiefs so the counter terror war does not become a commercially viable sector to be used by them for personal aggrandisement.

Coming so soon after the heavy losses sustained by the Army at the hands of Boko Haram in Metele, Borno State, this new casualty figure is a red flag that calls for immediate and decisive action on the part of the leadership of Nigeria.

“As such, Atiku Abukakar calls for a state of emergency to be declared not in Borno or Zamfara, but in financing the military and security services,” the statement said.

The PDP presidential candidate called for an immediate allocation of $1 billion for arming and training the military, police and other security agencies as well as providing improved service conditions for the officers and men at the frontlines of the war on terror and criminality.

He called for a comprehensive insurance programme for all officers and men of the military and security services such that if they are injured and killed in service, their families would receive sums equal to 10 years’ salary and allowances.

According to him, the emergency on security funding should allow families of soldiers and policemen killed in service to be allowed to remain in their official quarters for as long as it’s reasonably possible for them to get alternative accommodation and that a special agency be set up to help them in that process.

The former Vice President also called for a comprehensive probe into the disbursements of the $1 billion special security budget that was allegedly withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account by the current administration in January of 2018 for the procurement of military hardware.

He noted that the nation is not getting value for money as there has not been a commensurate improvement in the weaponry and conditions of service of troops since that withdrawal was made.