NLC Calls For Probe Of Military Spending

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014

Oyewale Oyelola

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the National Assembly to probe the financial allocations to the military and the utilization of allocations in the sector.

Chief of Defence Staff in Nigeria, Air Marshall Alex Badeh

The NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar made this call in a statement made available to Newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

Omar advised President Goodluck Jonathan to exercise his power as the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces by investigation the activities and challenges of Nigeria’s security forces, especially in the North East of the country with sincerity and utmost transparency.

According to the statement, “The entire subject was worrisome in view of the fact that the attacks are increasing even as the Minister of Finance recently announced that N130 billion has been spent on security, especially on the military, which is saddled with the responsibility of confronting the armed insurgency in the North East led by the Boko Haram elements.

“The ease and precision with which these attacks are carried out, despite numerous security check points and the number of security personnel deployed in the zone is worrisome and unjustifiable,” the statement said. “If high profile traditional rulers could be attacked so casually just as villages and towns are being razed even in broad daylight, what would be the fate of ordinary citizens?”

Omar described the murder of Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta by Boko haram as cruel, adding the murder of the Emir has exposed the soft underbelly of the security operations.

“We are disturbed that despite huge resource allocations to security, security remains a serious challenge in Nigeria with the recent ambush and assassination of the Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta who was in company of two other Emirs on their way to Gombe for the funeral rites of their late colleague, the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Usman Shehu Abubakar who died earlier at a London hospital.” He said.

The NLC expressed its deep condolences to the family of the Emir of Gwoza and thousands of other families including the families of those security operatives who are bereaved as a result of the costly war.

The statement also said the abduction of more than 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno state was a national embarrassment despite state is emergency in three volatile North-East states; Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

NLC said: “That these children are yet to be rescued and delivered unharmed to their parents questions the commitment and credibility of those saddled with the search and rescue operation and negatively impacts on our national image.”

The congress expressed confidence that the security agencies can effectively route out the insurgents if well-equipped and motivated, as the same personnel have not only rendered a good account of themselves in foreign operations, but have also played a decisive role in ending conflicts in some countries.

“Although this war is slightly different, we are concerned that these same forces are finding it difficult to confront insurgency back home. We believe government and indeed, all Nigerians must take interest in what could be the obstacles to our collective resolve and commitment to the war on terror that has all but brought socio-economic activities in parts of the country to a halt.”