By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance to ensure full release of the 2024 capital allocation to the security and intelligence sector in the overall interest of the nation’s security.
Speaking yesterday during the budget defence session of agencies under the office of the National Security Adviser, Chairman of the committee, Ahmed Satomi described as regrettable, the capital allocation made available to some of the intelligence agencies in the country under last year budget.
According to Satomi, even though there is appreciable allocation to the security sector, the intelligence subsector has been grossly under funded, noting that his committee will look for ways to ensure increase in the budget for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The chairman recalled that the president presented the 2025 budget of N49.7 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly with an expected revenue of N36.35 trillion and a budget deficit of N13.39 trillion.
While commending the president for allocating about N4.91 trillion to defence and security sector, thus underscoring the priority accorded to security in the 2025 budget, he lamented that the intelligence subsector appears grossly underfunded.
According to him, the intelligence subsector was allocated N59 billion out of which proposed capital expenditure allocation is N274,550,298,453.00, overhead allocation receiving N107,963,187,783 while personnel cost got N212,511,457,132.
He said: “It is imperative to note that the 2025 budget is christened ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity.’ Securing peace presupposes that a lot of engagements with citizens will be undertaken by government at all levels.”
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Office of the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Danjuma said the proposed budget was tailored towards addressing the evolving security challenges facing the nation, ensuring the effective coordination of security agencies, seamless intelligence gathering and information sharing, and other specialised services to enhance national security.
He said the budget would enhance coordination and collaboration by strengthening partnerships within security agencies to foster a more cohesive and responsive security architecture; enhance infrastructural development by improving existing operational facilities and equipment to support efficient service delivery and ensure capacity building and manpower development by upgrading the skills and expertise of personnel to address emerging security challenges.
