Senate tells Tinubu to recruit 100,000 military personnel, to probe safe school funds
The Senate, on Tuesday asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately approve the recruitment of at least 100,000 more men into the Armed Forces to reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture.
The Senators also resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the utilisation of funds allocated over the years for the Safe School Programme, in the face of rising attacks of schools.
Senator Abdullahi Yahaya (APC, Kebbi North), who moved the motion before the resolution, said insecurity had become alarming, requiring urgent and decisive national action.
Also speaking, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central), said the situation was “an existential threat,” and appealed to his colleagues to rise above politics.
“We shouldn’t be political or lackadaisical about it because even if those children are not our own,” he said.
Senator Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South) said the nation had “fallen into the trap of its enemies,” adding that failure to unite against insecurity would jeopardise Nigeria’s future.
Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North) lamented that despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, attacks and killings persist.
“These children are the leaders of tomorrow. We must do everything possible to protect them,” he said.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) accused state governors of failing in security management.
“Security is not only the responsibility of the Federal Government, governors must be engaged,” he said, adding that during his tenure as governor, he “took the challenge” rather than blame the centre.
Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) said advanced technology-driven intelligence must be embraced to track and rescue the abducted children, while Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South) questioned why schoolgirls continued to be targeted.
“Where has the girl-child gone wrong? Are we saying we don’t want girls to go to school? This is a national emergency,” he said.
The Senate then accepted Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s (APC, Edo North) prayer calling for the recruitment of 100,000 youths into the Armed Forces.
Oshiomhole said the new intakes must be adequately trained and equipped to confront bandits, terrorists and other violent groups terrorising citizens.
The Senate also called for increased deployment of modern surveillance and intelligence technology to combat insecurity and assist in locating the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls.
