House Solicits More Budgetary Allocations To National Security Agencies

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to increase budget allocations for intelligence agencies.

The committee also directed the Minister of Finance to ensure the full release of all outstanding 2024 budget funds to the agencies.

The Chairman of the House committee on National Security, Mr. Ahmed Satomi, during a budget defense session with National Security agencies, stressed that timely and adequate funding is vital for national security.

Mr. Satomi also raised concerns about the underfunding of the intelligence subsector, which received N595 billion, including N274.5 billion for capital expenditure, N107.96 billion for overheads, and N212.51 billion for personnel expenses.

He also noted that agencies like the National Centre for Counter Terrorism, the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) have not received any capital releases for 2023 and 2024.

“It is imperative to note that the 2025 Budget is christened the ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity.’ Securing peace presupposes that a lot of engagements with citizens will be undertaken by the government at all levels. Deradicalization, disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration programs etc will have to be carried out as a major non kinetic initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with other tiers of government.

“In the budget presented by Mr. President, the Defence and Security sector was allocated N4.91trillion thus underscoring the priority accorded to security in the 2025 Budget. As much as I want to commend Mr. President for this laudable allocation, may I however note that the intelligence subsector appears to be grossly underfunded going by the total allocation of N595,024,943,368 billion to the subsector, out of which the proposed capital expenditure allocation is N274,550,298,453.00, Overhead allocation is N107,963,187,783 while allocation to personnel expenditure for the entire intelligence sector is N212,511,457,132 billion” Mr Satomi said.

He disclosed that in the light of the above, “it is therefore not encouraging to observe that the frontline agencies are saddled with statutory responsibilities of countering violent extremism, terrorism, ‘illicit flow of small arms and light weapons, intelligence gathering and analysis, maintenance of national security and ensuring the provision of safe, secure and efficient air transportation for the president, vice president and other notable government officials are negligibly funded”.

He also noted that “Going by the submissions before the committee, it is heartbreaking that an agency like the National Centre for Counter Terrorism has not gotten any capital release for year 2023 and year 2024. The National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSSALW) are yet to receive a single kobo for their capital projects in 2024. The capital releases to the DSS and NIA are insufficient to motivate these agencies to work optimally in order to deliver on their critical mandates”.

The Chairman therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “please intervene NOT just for an increase in the allocations to the agencies in the intelligence sector but to also direct the Minister of Finance to as a matter of national security, prioritize the full release of all outstanding 2024 budget allocations to the intelligence agencies and sustain the practice of prompt releases to them going forward”.

 

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He also acknowledged the tireless and selfless efforts of committee members, the National Security Adviser and indeed all the agencies under the committee’s oversight jurisdiction.

“As we gather for this Budget Defence Meeting, I want to emphasize the importance of our collective efforts in ensuring the security and welfare of Nigerian citizens. It is important to note that this Committee’s oversight jurisdiction encompasses critical agencies that play a vital role in maintaining national security and it is our duty to ensure that they are adequately equipped to discharge their mandates in a responsible and accountable manner.

“Your dedication to national security is very commendable and I look forward to our collaborative efforts in ensuring a safer and more secure Nigeria” he said.

 

Addressing emergency security challenges 

The Permanent Secretary, office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Mohammed Danjuma, acknowledged the constraints of the envelope system of budgeting but emphasized the proposed budget’s focus on fostering collaboration, upgrading infrastructure, and enhancing personnel skills to address emerging security challenges.

He explained that in 2025, national security agencies hope to enhance coordination and collaboration, strengthen partnerships with security agencies to foster a more cohesive and responsive security architecture in Nigeria.

He also said that infrastructure development, improving operational facilities, capacity building and manpower development and upgrading the skills and expertise of personnel to address emerging security challenges would form the key functions of the security agencies.

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh