Nigerian army calls for establishment of defence trust/support fund
- The Nigerian army has called for the establishment of a defence trust/support fund
- This is due to the dwindling financial allocations to the Nigerian army
- There are concerns that the current allocation cannot adequately accommodate the operational needs of the army
The acting chief of accounts and budget, army, Brigadier General Jehadi Ezra Jakko, has disclosed that there is need for the federal government to initiate new sources of funding to halt the continually dwindling financial allocations to the Nigerian army.
Jakko's suggestion was due to the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s Order of Battle (ORBAT) 2016, leading to the establishment of 3 additional divisions (6, 7 and 8 divisions in Port Harcourt, Maiduguri and Sokoto respectively), thereby introducing an 8 division force structure.
He stated that the current budgeting system (envelop system) by the National Assembly cannot adequately accommodate the operational needs of the army.
He made his concerns known at the opening ceremony of the 11th Biennial Nigeria Army Finance Corps Training Conference at the Command Officers Mess 2, Apapa in Lagos, on Tuesday, October 24.
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According to him, the envelop system limits the resources at the disposal of the army for routine maintenance and full implementation of the 2016 ORBAT.
The theme for the 2017 conference is ‘Military Expenditure and Combat Readiness: Realistic Funding as a Panacea for Sustaining Nigeria Army Operations.'
“Dwindling resources through the envelop system has also impeded routine exercises required for operational readiness and efficiency.
“There is therefore the need to exploit new budgeting windows to include other channels of funding for the Nigerian army as is done in other nations.
“Available options include creating a Defence Support Fund as obtainable in Turkey, establishment of a Military Industrial Base and Investment Holdings as in Egypt or enacting a local Defence Trust Fund Act like existing Tertiary Education Trust Fund in Nigeria.
“The government could also include defence and security sector as beneficiaries from the National Sovereign wealth Fund. These windows will reduce the burden of funding military on government,” Jakko told his audience.
He however said despite the current financial situation, the Nigerian Army Finance Corps has ensured that available funds were prudently and transparently channels towards areas that would sustain Nigerian army operation.
“To this end, funds were channeled towards payment of outstanding operations allowance to troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.
“A dedicated data base was established at Headquarters NAFC Abuja and a special payment portal known as ‘e-Tranzact Portal’ was installed to facilitate payment process of troops allowances in the northeast theater.
“Also, on the spot verification exercise was conducted in 3 locations (Maiduguri, Yobe and Yola) to address issues of outstanding claims of operations allowances in Operation Lafiya Dole.
"This has assisted in boosting the morale of troops and rekindling their fighting spirits towards attaining the Nigerian army mission,” he said.
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On the achievements recorded in the NAFC in the last two years, Jakko said: “The level of professionalism has greatly increased through improved training, discipline and welfare. The Corps held the Warrant Officers/Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Training Week 2017 across all divisions which was adjudged successful.
“It also held the Nigerian Army Leadership Development Seminar in the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA) which recorded increased participation.
“Most recently, the Corps organized a training package for its personnel on the International Public Sector Accounting Standard in collaboration with the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. These deliberate training efforts have improved the capacity of NAFC personnel to the benefit of Nigeria army operations.”
Participants at the ceremony included National Assembly members, retired and serving military officers, the academia as well as representatives of financial and business communities.
Also present were retired and serving senior officers of the Nigerian army.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian army has arrested over 40 suspects for various offences within Lagos and Ogun states after the launch of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE 2.
The army made this known through a statement on Tuesday, October 17, by the 81 Division spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu in Lagos.
READ ALSO: Operation Crocodile Smile not to torment citizens - Army
STREET GIST: Is Operation "Crocodile smile II" necessary? - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
