- PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abukakar, has called for a probe of the $1 billion security fund recently obtained by the federal government
- The former Vice President, in a statement on Monday, December 3, also called for a state of emergency in military financing
- Atiku called for an immediate allocation of at least $1 billion to go towards arming and training the nation’s military, police and other security agencies
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, December 3, asked the federal government to probe the disbursement of $1 billion special security budget that was allegedly withdrawn in January 2018 from the Excess Crude Account, Daily Trust reports.
Legit.ng gathered that the former Vice President, in a statement by his media Office also called for a state of emergency in military financing. The statement also asked the federal government to allocate at least $1 billion for arming and training of the military, police and other security agencies as well as providing improved service conditions for the officers and men of the forces waging the war against terror.
Atiku argued that the nation had not gained any value or felt the impact of the disbursement neither had there been a commensurate improvement in terms of weapon acquisition or conditions of service of troops since the withdrawal was made.
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He said: “His Excellency, Atiku Abukakar calls for a comprehensive insurance program for all officers and men of our military and security services such that if they are injured and killed in service, their family receives a sum equal to 10 years salary and allowances.
“Going further, Atiku Abubakar posits that the emergency should allow families of soldiers and policemen killed in service to be allowed to remain in their official quarters for as long as is reasonably possible for them to get alternative accommodation and that a special agency be set up to help them in that process.
“The PDP candidate calls for a comprehensive probe into the disbursements of the $1 billion special security budget that was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account by the current administration in January of 2018.
“Atiku Abubakar calls for a 7-day period of national mourning, for flags to be flown at half mast and for national awards to be given to these fallen heroes who should be given heroes funerals. It is the least we can do for those who gave their lives that we might have ours.
“No more must we continue to read of the deaths of our heroes. Serving Nigeria must be a thing of sacrifice and pride, not a sui*ide mission. If we must send men and women to protect us, we must protect them by giving them the very best training and weaponry money can buy,” he said.
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Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigerian Army said it is yet to get the $1 billion approved to tackle terrorism and other security issues in the country.
The National Economic Council (NEC) in 2017 approved the request of the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to withdraw $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for the fight against insurgency.
Speaking to newsmen recently, the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Sani Usman, revealed that the money is still being processed.
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Source: Legit.ng