A Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Competent Governance For Accountability And Civic Trust has called on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government to increase bugetary allocation for defence to 35 percent.
Executive Director of the group Amb. Godwin Oghenero Erheriene made the appeal at a press conference in Abuja.
The group lamented that the 12 percent allocated to defence in 2024 budget was inadequate considering the responsibilities and importance of the sector.
The statement read: “We the civil society organization are calling on the FG to increase the budget of Defence to 35 percent for more productivity.
“Recently the Honourable Minister of FCT Barr Neyosom Wike blamed the incessant occurrences of kidnapping and abductions in Abuja on inadequate equipment.
“If FCT that is hosting the seat of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria lack the requisite prerequisite to track criminals and terrorist what will then be the faith of states?
“It shows states will continue to be at the mercies of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.
“It’s on the hills of the above we are calling on the FG to increase the budget of Defence to 35 percent for more efficiency.
“The security sector is the most vital organ and most powerful organ of any government anywhere in the world and as such, it’s the most expensive sector too, as you are not unaware, security is expensive and the most potent sector of a government. The security sector is the key sector where other sectors rides on. Without security we are going nowhere as a nation.”
