Former Senate Leader and Borno South legislator, Senator Ali Ndume, has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to overlook increasing calls for the replacement of the existing Service Chiefs, warning that they are politically driven and not in Nigeria’s interest.
Ndume’s remarks, made Thursday in Abuja, come after the Northern Ethnic National Forum accused the Service Chiefs of lacking the requisite professional skills to command the war against insurgency and banditry and demanded their immediate removal.
The senator nonetheless termed the group’s accusations as “outlandish and uncharitable,” maintaining that the military commanders possess the training and expertise but require additional support.
What the troops need is not their exit but sufficient funding for training, equipment, ammunition, and motivation. This TEAM strategy will consolidate the war on terrorism, banditry, and insurgency,” Ndume added.
He bemoaned the low pay of frontline soldiers, adding that a private soldier in the Nigerian Army is paid around ₦100,000 a month and ₦5,000 as a daily allowance, which he referred to as “unconscionable.
The senator then praised the ethno-religious equilibrium in the Tinubu regime’s appointment of the security leadership as an improvement on previous governments.
Ndume appealed to Nigerians to avoid making comments that would demoralize soldiers, and instead stated that the real priority should be enhancing the welfare and supply of sufficient ammunition to the armed forces.
