2018 Budget: Senate insists on rollover projects for Nigerian Army

The Senate on Thursday, has insisted that uncompleted projects of the
Nigerian army must be rolled over to the new year for appropriation
rather than abandoning those projects for new ones.

Senate Committee on Nigeria Army stated this while hosting Nigerian
Army to its 2018 budget defence in Abuja.

Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai who appeared before the
committee explained that the 2017 capital budget performance for the
Nigerian Army was 57%, thereby, constituting a huge challenge for the
Army to overcome some tasks.

According to Gen. Buratai who appeared alongside military chiefs in
charge of army formations across the country, there was never an
abandoned projects since he became the Chief of Army Staff.

"Distinguished Chairman, Senators, what we normally do is to work with
what releases we have and since I became the Chief of Army Staff, we
have never had abandoned projects", he said.

He said, they would always work with realeses, though there were
things that normally require immediate action depending on the
security implications.

Member of the Committee, Senator James Manager commended the military
for the risk they were taking to ensure safety of Nigerians.

Manager advocated for a first line charge budget for the military
which would compel a 100% releases and on time, adding that Nigeria
military was too sensitive to be subjected to budget politics.

"If the Army was not doing their jobs, nobody would be safe in
Nigeria. We can not even sit to make laws for Nigeria in the National
Assembly, so we must commend the military," the lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, Committee Chairman, Senator George Akume said, the military
was doing well in protecting Nigeria's territorial integrity, saying,
Senate would ensure adequate provision of 2018 budgets.