Pulse.ng : Senate Impressed With NDA’s Developmental Strides

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, says they are impressed with the developmental strides achieved by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Lawan said this while speaking to newsmen after an oversight visit to NDA on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Describing the NDA’s leadership as committed and innovative, Lawan said he had visited the academy some years back where a significant achievement has shown glaringly.

“We could see this from implementation of the NDA’s 2023 budget. They introduced something that is unique and were able to complete all their projects and this is very commendable,”he said.

The chairman said they would continue to partner with the NDA and other defence institutions.

They include the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, National Defence College, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and other institutions they oversee.

He, however, said there was the need for more investment in the military, stating that the armed forces were working tirelessly to secure the country.

According to him, there is insufficient provision for the armed forces, stressing that the committee would work with the executive arm of government to improve on their finances.

Lawan emphasised that a secured nation makes it easy for other things to be in place.

He thanked the security agencies working tirelessly on behalf of Nigerians against bandits, militants, kidnappers and other criminals.

“What every Nigerian must do individually, collectively or as communities is to show our support to the military,” Lawan said.

Also, Sen. Mohammed Monguno, the Chief Whip of the Senate, who doubles as a member of the committee, said he was impressed by the quality of facilities in the NDA.

He said that the level of budgetary performance of the NDA was commendable, stressing the need for tremendous improvement in their budget and other military training institutions.

Monguno said, ”This is because of the pivotal role they play in training the nation’s military personnel.

“Considering the inflationary trend in the country and nature of acquisitions the NDA and other military institutions make.”

He advocated taking them out of the envelope budgeting system so that they could meet their budgeting requirements.

“There is also the need for robust funding for the military within the available limited resources considering the critical role they play for peace and stability of the nation,” Monguno said.

The Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, thanked the committee for finding the academy worthy of the oversight function amidst the multiple defence institutions in the country.

Ochai stated that if the committee addressed some of the issues they highlighted in the academy, it would take the NDA to a higher pedestal.