The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, has requested an increase in the ministry’s 2024 budget due to growing operational costs caused by inflation.
Badaru stated this on Wednesday in Abuja before the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Defence.
“The 2024 budget allocates N78.5 billion to the ministry for personnel and overhead costs, an increase over the N62.9 billion allocated in 2023,” he said.
The minister stated that the growing cost of petrol and other necessities had rendered the budget nearly meaningless.
“I’m appealing to the distinguished senators and honourable members to review the ministry’s budget given the prevailing economic situation to enable us to function effectively.
“You are already aware of the inflationary trend and the cost of diesel, petrol, and operational costs. The overhead is very low, and we urge you to support us to see how we can improve our overhead. Heads of brigades consume a lot of fuel, diesel, we appeal that this can be looked into,” he said.
According to Badaru, the ministry has yet to receive the N10 billion provision in the 2023 supplementary budget.
He stated that funding was critical to ensuring simultaneous operations across all theatres of action for the country to end its security difficulties.
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