The Chief of Army, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has expressed fear that inability to manage Federal Government’s public sector financial reforms well may affect the optimal performance of the army’s core competencies.
It is believed that the army being a regimented organization should not undergo bureaucratic principles of the Nigerian public service for the purpose of carrying out its constitutional roles with precision.
The financial reforms include cashless policy, Treasury Single Accounts, TSA, Foreign Exchange Restrictions, and Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
On the contrary, Major General A. R. Bakare, the Chief of Accounts and Budget Corps has identified inadequate funding as a growing challenge facing the army in the effective discharge of its constitutional roles.
Lt. Gen. Buratai speaking during the opening ceremony of the 12th Nigerian Army Finance Corps Biennial Training Conference at Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo on Monday, however, lauded that the policies would prevent leakages and wastage in the public sector.
Represented by Major General Jamil Sarham, the General Officer Commading 6 Divison of Nigerian Army, he pledged to ensure prudency and accountability in the utilization of of available financial funds.
“To this end, I authorized the establishment of Directorate of Audit and Financial Management (DAFM) which reports directly to my office.
“The essence was to ensure judicious application of all appropriated funds disbursed to Nigerian Army and units,” he stated.
Major-General Bakare who spoke on the theme: Expanding roles of the Nigerian Army in internal security operations: Funding imperatives pointed out that it was chosen to enunciate the challenges posed by inadequate funding of the Nigerian Army operations despite its expanding roles in internal security across the country.
Bakare thanked the Federal Government for its unwavering support to the army in containing with a plethora of threats to the national security.
According to him, “However, the recent expansion in Nigerian Army force structure necessitates commensurate allocation of funds to enable the Army optimally exploit the anticipated benefits of its new structure.
“To this end, the Nigerian Army will continue to look up to the government for adequate funding especially towards the full implementation of its 2020 budget proposal.”
In his address, Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel acknowleged the role of Nigerian Army in defending the nation from external attack or attack by would-be enemies given the current security challenges posed by Boko Haram insurgency, Independent Peoples Biafra (IPOB), herders/farmers conflict, and Niger Delta militants.
Emmanuel, who was represented by Mr. Akan Okon, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, called for improved funding for the army to be able to contain the security chanllenges in the country.
