Revealed: Nigerian Govt Spent N74.99 Billion To Battle Terrorism In 2020, Military Complaints Shortfall Of N50bn
The Ministry of Finance told the Senate Committee on Army on Thursday that the Federal Government spent N74.99bn to battle terrorism in 2020.
The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, in the finance ministry, Aliyu Shinkafi, said all the funds appropriated for the war against insurgency had been released to the military authorities.
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The Permanent Secretary told the senators that N75bn was appropriated in 2020 but that N74.99bn was released.
Ndume however, brought out a letter from the Chief of Defence Staff where he said the military authorities complained that they had shortfall of N50bn as far as releases from the Finance Ministry was concerned.
Ndume expressed dissatisfaction with the non appearance of the Minister at the meeting.
He therefore asked the committee’s secretariat to summon her, alongside the Director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze; and the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru for Tuesday.
Ndume said, “Honestly, we are not happy that the Minister of Finance is not here today despite the fact that she was duly invited and she knew the importance of the issue we invited her to discuss with us.
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“We were blaming the military but the soldiers are claiming that they have no equipment, arms and ammunition to work with because there was no money to buy them.
The committee also asked the ministry officials to come back next Tuesday with details of the releases made from 2019.
