The Senate yesterday met with Service Chiefs on the security situation in the country.
Last weeked, Boko Haram strike in Dalori, Borno State killing 85 peoples.
The two-hour meeting, chaired by Senate President Bukola Saraki, was attended by Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Leader Ali Ndume, Majority Whip Francis Alimikhena, Committee on Navy Chairman Isa Hama Misau and his colleague in the Committee on Air Force, Duro Faseyi. Committee on Defence Chairman Ahmed Lawan, was absent.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, led the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar to the meeting.
Ndume told reporters: “We have been briefed properly but these are security issues; we cannot really disclose any of it.
“Unlike before, the Senate was not abreast or updated on the efforts they are making; now; we have very full, honest, open and transparent discussion on the activities.
“This is a security meeting that we just had; it will be wrong for me to disclose the details.
“We are satisfied because we have never had this kind of briefing before; we are part of it now; we know what the problem; we know what the challenges are,” he said.
A source said the military chiefs complained that their vote in the 2015 supplementary budget had not been released, thereby hampering their ability to fund their operations. The need to continuously increase service personnel and the hindrance posed by the slow procurement process.
The military chiefs also canvassed the need for the review of some laws governing their operations so as to make them able to respond to emergency situations in the Northeast.
Also discussed were the need for regional support for the fight against insurgency in the Northeast by the neighbouring countries, resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their traditional homes, intelligence gathering and sharing among the various agencies and mobilisation of the international community, particularly through inter-parliamentary efforts in support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
The senators reportedly assured the military chiefs that they will fast track the request for the review of the laws being complained about by putting them on the “priority Bills” list.
They also promised to take up the release of funds raised by the military chiefs with the Ministry of Finance immediately. The committees on Defence, Finance and Appropriations have been mandated to ensure that the issues raised by the Service Chiefs are taken care of in the budget.
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