According to a reports by vanguard 3rd December,2025, Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has called on the newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, to champion the inclusion of the Nigerian Army on the First Line Charge of the national budget—an exclusive category currently reserved for select constitutional institutions.
Ndume, who once chaired the Senate Committee on Army and has long advocated stronger financial support for the military, made the appeal in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja. His remarks follow Musa’s confirmation by the Senate as Minister of Defence, replacing former Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru. Before this appointment, Musa served as the Chief of Defence Staff.
At present, only a handful of agencies—such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Assembly, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)—receive statutory transfers directly from the Federation Account. This mechanism ensures that their budgetary allocations are released promptly, without being subject to bureaucratic delays.
Ndume argued that extending this privilege to the Nigerian Army would significantly strengthen national security operations. According to him, personnel welfare, timely procurement of arms and ammunition, and swift operational response often suffer due to administrative hurdles associated with delayed fund releases.
He emphasized that adequate and prompt funding is crucial, noting that better remuneration and seamless access to capital allocations would greatly boost the morale and efficiency of military personnel. “Aside from adequate funding of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, prompt disbursement of funds is very important,” he said. “The military must receive its full capital budget, because if it doesn’t, operations will suffer.”
Ndume also reminded the incoming minister of the constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, stressing that the government must move beyond rhetoric in addressing insecurity. “There should be no justification for delay in the release of funds for the military for procurement and other strategic needs,” he added.
As Musa takes on his new role, Ndume expressed confidence in his capability and urged him to make a persuasive case to President Bola Tinubu on why the Nigerian Army should be prioritized under the First Line Charge system.
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