Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume yesterday urged newly confirmed Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retd.), to push for the inclusion of the Nigerian Army in the First Line Charge to ensure timely and uninterrupted funding for military operations.
First Line Charge—also known as statutory transfer—allows designated agencies to receive their budgetary allocations directly from the Federation Account before other MDAs. Beneficiaries currently include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Assembly, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Ndume made the call in a statement issued in Abuja shortly after the Senate confirmed Musa, who was nominated by President Bola Tinubu following the exit of his predecessor, Abubakar Badaru.
He argued that placing the armed forces on statutory transfer would eliminate bureaucratic delays that often hinder the release of funds for arms procurement, ammunition and critical operational logistics required in the fight against insurgency.
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“While I commend him on his appointment, which most Nigerians believe he deserves, he should convince his boss, the President and Commander-in-Chief, on the need to put the Nigerian Army on First Line Charge,” Ndume said.
“Adequate funding of the Army, Navy and Air Force is essential. Prompt disbursement of funds is equally important. If they don’t get their capital budget in full and on time, operations will suffer.”
The Borno South senator stressed that security remains a constitutional duty of government and must not be undermined by financial bottlenecks.
“Security of lives and property is critical. It is enshrined in the Constitution as the primary purpose of government. We must stop paying lip service to it. There should be no justification for delays in releasing funds for the military’s procurement and strategic needs,” he added.
Ndume also urged Musa to prioritise the welfare and remuneration of military personnel, noting that many still serve under difficult conditions despite their sacrifices.
“My position on better welfare for our Armed Forces is already well known. They are not the best paid in the West African subregion. Something must be done urgently to show them that we value their sacrifices,” he said.
His comments mirror longstanding concerns over the conditions faced by troops, particularly those deployed in the North-East battling Boko Haram and ISWAP. Soldiers have for years complained about delayed salaries, unpaid allowances, poor accommodation, overstretched deployments, inadequate equipment and insufficient protective gear. Reports and testimonies from military families continue to highlight the strain on frontline personnel confronting outdated weapons, operational fatigue and intense psychological stress.
