Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume has urged the new Chief of Defence Staff, Lt-General Olufemi Oluyede and the Service Chiefs to push for better remuneration for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces to boost their motivation.
The lawmaker gave the advice in a statement in Abuja following the decoration of the new service chiefs with their new ranks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
General Oluyede and three other service chiefs were screened and confirmed for appointment by the Senate on Wednesday.
Aside from the new Chief of Defence Staff, others confirmed by the Senate were Major General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
The Senator representing Borno South, who incidentally was former Chairman Senate Committee on Army in the Ninth Senate, maintained that better remuneration is key in boosting the morale of the military in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other threats, inimical to security of lives and property of Nigerians.
Ndume said: “I have identified four pillars that would make our military formidable at all times and keep security threats at bay.
“This is what I have tagged as TEAM. The first is Training, second is Equipment, Ammunition and Motivations in that order.”
The lawmaker also advocated that the present administration should ensure that the military budget be accorded priority by being placed in the First Line Charge.
The former Senate Leader noted the salary and allowances of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces are nothing to write home about compared with their counterparts in neighboring West African states.
