Senate Don Complain Say Envelope Budget No Fit Control Insecurity

You no go believe wetin dey happen for Senate yesterday! Dem don buka mouth talk say the Federal Government budget system wey dem dey call envelope budgeting no dey work at all when e come to security matter.

As dem dey defend 2026 budget for National Security Adviser Office for Abuja, lawmakers no fit hide their vex as dem dey ask questions about wetin dey happen with funding wey dey always dey short. Dem talk say as e be now, money wey dem suppose release dey delay, and capital projects wey dem suppose implement dey gather dust like old song.

Senate Committee Chairman for National Security, Yahaya Abdullahi, no gree carry matter come joke level at all. E talk say the envelope budgeting na serious wahala wey dey stop our security and intelligence agencies from doing dia work well, especially as Nigeria dey battle with insurgency for North-East, banditry and kidnap for North-West, plus all the wahala wey dey happen for South-East and Niger Delta.

Abdullahi come make am clear say if dem serious about tackling insecurity, dem gatz change how dem dey budget money. He talk say, “The envelope budgeting system no fit solve the kind security wahala wey dey face the country. We need flexibilities, not rigid structure. Security agencies dey struggle to operate well with limited funds.”

Mohammed Sanusi, wey represent National Security Adviser, no gree carry last. E confirm wetin Abdullahi talk, say the system dey cause serious challenges for their operations. “Irregular overhead releases and non-implementation of capital appropriations dey affect our ability to support security agencies,” e yan.

Dem come enter closed-door session to discuss sensitive parts of the budget. Na there dem go figure how to tackle these wahala wey surround the budgeting style, as some lawmakers dey think say dem need to review how dem dey fund security during this 2026 appropriation process.

For House of Representatives too, Sanusi don’t talk say envelope budgeting na big problem wey dey limit how security go fit operate with the 2025 budget. E mention the challenges wey dem dey face like no proper allocation and forex wahala wey dey cause irregular release for foreign service personnel.

Sanusi come clear say dem go focus on combating terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping with better strategies as dem gatz secure critical infrastructure to make sure say economy and food no suffer.

Ahmad Satomi, wey be Chairman of House Committee on National Security, don express say na so e be. E call for better synergy between executive and legislative arms to strengthen national security, plus no allow the security agencies see legislators as interlopers when dem want carry out oversight.

“Na our responsibility as National Assembly to make sure things dey go well for the country, and we gatz make sure security no dey take back seat,” Satomi don talk.

But wahala no end there o! Dem come dey discuss budget allocation for security sector wey dey show say defence and intelligence no dey get sufficient money wey dem need. E no dey sweet at all as allocation for intelligence subsector be N664.12m while personnel cost and capital expenditure dey high.

As e be so, Borno senator don dey complain say the allocation to security sector dey too small and no dey match wetin President talk during joint session for National Assembly. E even point out say if government really dey prioritize security, money no suppose dey look like small change.

One thing wey clear be say, if dis budgeting system no change, na serious wahala we go dey see for our security matters, and we gatz wise up make sure say things fit change for better.