Budget Envelope System Slowing Down Boko Haram Fight, Says Buratai

• Senator seeks formal protest over illegal entry of Cameroonian soldiers

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, has said the envelope budgetary system which results in capping of funds notwithstanding the needs of an organisation, is slowing down the fight to rid Nigeria of terrorism.

This is as the Nigerian Army proposed the sum of N233.05 billion for its 2018 budget estimates with N21.6 billion as its capital component; N26.1 billion as overhead and N195 as personnel costs.

Buratai, while speaking during the budget defence for the 2018 estimates before the Senate Committee on Army, yesterday said most of the lingering security challenges remain unresolved as funds to prosecute them are not immediately available.

“This has resulted in casualties and delays,” he said.

Presenting budget figures, Buratai said the army requested for N261.67 billion from the budget office, but was allotted N233.05 billion which is insufficient for its needs.

N39.8 billion would cater for the capital component, he said, adding that the money would be used to procure drones, construct an aerial reconnaissance centre (N2.5 billion); rehabilitation of barracks (N5 billion); procurement of additional arms and ammunition (N4.8 billion) and funds for the operational activation of three additional divisions at the cost of N4.5 billion.

The army boss appealed to the committee to approve the extra funds particularly for the capital budget of the army.

Appraising the performance of the 2017 budget of the army, Buratai disclosed that there was 100 percent release of the N133.44 billion for personnel cost while N11.85 billion of the N20.6 billion for capital was released.

“Let me reiterate our total commitment to safeguarding the territorial integrity of Nigeria from violation as well as intensified efforts to rid Nigeria of the remnants of Boko Haram,” Buratai said.

He however sought timely and complete release of appropriated funds, and urged the lawmakers to prevail on the Ministry of Finance to exempt the army from budget ceiling policy, including their funds to first line charge.

The Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Danbaba (Sokoto APC), said it is lamentable that funds for the army battling security challenges which border on the territorial integrity of the country are not fully released.

“It is shocking to know that only 42 percent of the overhead (2017) was released. You have to make realistic budget, you cannot project a 12 month budget and atop releasing after seven months. Either the planners did not do their homework or the funds were diverted to other uses,” Danbaba said.

The senator suggested that all capital projects not completed should be rolled over into the next budget to avoid discontinuance of projects.

The Committee Chairman, Senator George Akume (Benue APC), commended the army for having “done well” in the context of the funds that have been released to it.

“When the budget is presented and acted upon early, we believe the army would do a lot better, and that would be in the overall interest of Nigeria,” he said.

Akume added that it is necessary that budget cycles be respected.

In another development, the Senator representing Cross River Central, John Owan Enoh, has called on the federal government to activate official protocols to protest a recent entry into Nigeria by about 100 Cameroon soldiers.

He said this in reaction to reports that about 100 Cameroonian soldiers illegally entered Nigeria through the border in Danare, Cross Rivers State, in search of some Anglophone secessionists who had come into the country for refuge.

Owan, in a statement, lamented that the soldiers attacked communities in search of the secessionists just as they attacked same communities in December 2017.

He, therefore, called for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the communities to protect the country’s territory in the area, and protect the people from unwarranted attacks.

“The latest invasion of Danare is unfortunate, condemnable and constitutes a gross violation of the inalienable rights of my people to peaceful co-existence. The peaceful and law-abiding citizens of Danare deserve a peaceful environment in order to pursue their legitimate aspirations.

“I therefore use this medium to call on the federal government to explore all official channels of communication between Nigeria and Cameroon to protest this violation of the territorial integrity of our country,” Owan added.