The
Senate yesterday met with Service Chiefs on the security situation in the
country.
Last
weeked, Boko Haram strike in Dalori, Borno State killing 85 peoples.
The
two-hour meeting, chaired by Senate President Bukola Saraki, was attended by
Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Leader Ali Ndume, Majority Whip Francis
Alimikhena, Committee on Navy Chairman Isa Hama Misau and his colleague in the
Committee on Air Force, Duro Faseyi. Committee on Defence Chairman Ahmed Lawan,
was absent.
The
Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, led the Chief of Army
Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ette Ibas and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar to the
meeting.
Ndume
told reporters: “We have been briefed properly but these are security issues;
we cannot really disclose any of it.
“Unlike before, the Senate was not abreast or updated on the efforts they are
making; now; we have very full, honest, open and transparent discussion on the
activities.
“This is a security meeting that we just had; it will be
wrong for me to disclose the details.
“We are satisfied because we have never had this kind of
briefing before; we are part of it now; we know what the problem; we know what
the challenges are,” he said.
A source said the military chiefs complained that their vote
in the 2015 supplementary budget had not been released, thereby hampering their
ability to fund their operations. The need to continuously increase service
personnel and the hindrance posed by the slow procurement process.
The military chiefs also canvassed the need for the review of
some laws governing their operations so as to make them able to respond to
emergency situations in the Northeast.
Also discussed were the need for regional support for
the fight against insurgency in the Northeast by the neighbouring countries,
resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their traditional homes,
intelligence gathering and sharing among the various agencies and mobilisation
of the international community, particularly through inter-parliamentary
efforts in support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
The senators reportedly assured the military chiefs that they
will fast track the request for the review of the laws being complained about
by putting them on the “priority Bills” list.
They also promised to take up the release of funds raised by
the military chiefs with the Ministry of Finance immediately. The committees on
Defence, Finance and Appropriations have been mandated to ensure that the
issues raised by the Service Chiefs are taken care of in the budget.
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