By John Alechenu
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving salary increases for about 250,000 personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, saying the move will go a long way to boost the morale of troops.
President Tinubu last week approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for military personnel. The new rates take effect next month.
With the adjustment, the annual wage bill for the Armed Forces will rise from N660 billion to N924 billion. Officers above the rank of colonel -brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals – will get 30 per cent increase.
Those from colonel down to warrant officer will get 50 per cent, while personnel from private to staff sergeant will get 80 per cent.
In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, Ndume, who once chaired the Senate Committee on Army, said the salary review shows the President has a clear plan to tackle insecurity.
He said, “This coming after his recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12 shows that Mr. President has his own blueprint aimed at dealing with the scourge of terrorism and banditry.
“The review of salary will go a long way in motivating our military personnel. I have been in the vanguard of better motivation for our men and officers in the military in terms of decent living wage.
“President Tinubu has once again proved that he is a responsive leader who doesn’t shut his mind to genuine and legitimate agitation of Nigerians.”
However, the Borno South Senator noted that better pay alone will not win the war against insurgency. He urged the government to also ensure prompt supply of arms, ammunition and other logistics.
Ndume said, “I have always argued that aside better welfare package and training, what they need to deal with insurgents is prompt supply of arms and ammunition.
“I also want to urge Mr. President to keep up his pledge on the provision of weapons and technological tools required to the Armed Forces to effectively discharge their duties.”
The APC Chieftain called for the annual defence budget to be placed on First Line Charge to remove bureaucratic delays.
According to him, “All these can be achieved seamlessly if we put their annual budget on First Line Charge. This envelope budgeting is trapped in unnecessary bureaucracy between the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Finance. It is a big encumbrance to effective operations of our men and officers in the war theater.
“Mr. President should seize the initiative to ensure direct statutory transfer from the Federation Account for the military as it is done with few agencies of government.”
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