The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, said on Thursday that he believed the funds allocated for the welfare of security personnel were not being judiciously utilised, for political reasons.<\/p>\n
He observed that the problem contributed to the \u201clow morale\u201d of troops deployed to confront members of the Boko Haram sect killing and maiming innocent Nigerians in the North-East of the country.<\/p>\n
He disclosed that the House had received \u2018bitter complaints\u2019 from soldiers indicating that \u201ctheir welfare is not being taken seriously.\u201d
\nTambuwal noted that despite the huge funds appropriated for military operations by the National Assembly regularly, there was evidence that security personnel were not getting adequate welfare to prepare themselves for the task of confronting insurgents.
\nHe added, \u201cSomebody is playing politics with the welfare of soldiers.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr the money meant for the welfare of our soldiers is not being applied judiciously.
\n\u201cThe House will not take this matter lying low and we are prepared to take on those involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tambuwal barred his mind when he met with members of the Unity Schools Old Students Association at the National Assembly in Abuja.
\nHe disclosed that the House was set to investigate how the funds allocated to soldiers\u2019 welfare was utilised.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we resume plenary, we are going to take some motions from our members on the welfare of our troops.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has become a serious issue because soldiers are complaining that what is meant for them is not getting to them\u201d, he said.
\nThe speaker declared that the National Assembly was always ready to assist the Executive in every way possible to bring an end to the insurgency.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery effort of government must be supported by the National Assembly.
\n\u201cWe are ready to do everything possible to end this insurgency.
\n\u201cWe cannot commandeer troops, but we can appropriate funds.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is meant for the welfare of our soldiers should be improved\u201d, he stated.<\/p>\n
He applauded the foresight of Nigeria\u2019s founding fathers for initiating the unity school system.<\/p>\n
According to him, the unity schools, more than the National Youth Service Corps, promote the unity of the country by bringing children from diverse backgrounds together early in life.<\/p>\n
The President-General of the association, Mr. Kabir Nuhu-Koko, had condemned the latest resort of insurgents to attacking secondary school children.<\/p>\n
He recalled the attack last month, on a Government College in Yobe state, which claimed the lives of 59 students and left many others maimed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe killing of citizens anywhere is not acceptable. The massacre of the students was so terrible.
\nNAN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, said on Thursday that he believed the funds allocated for the welfare of security personnel were not being judiciously utilised,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n