Insecurity: Ignore calls to sack service chiefs – Ndume tells President Tinubu
Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has urged President Bola Tinubu to ignore calls for the dismissal of Service Chiefs, describing the allegations against them by the Northern Ethnic National Forum as baseless and politically motivated.
Instead of sackings, Ndume recommended a “TEAM approach”, focusing on Training, Equipment, Ammunition, and Motivation, to strengthen the Armed Forces in tackling terrorism and banditry.
He also raised concerns about poor soldier welfare, noting that a private earns around ₦100,000 monthly with a ₦5,000 daily allowance, which he deemed inadequate. Ndume stressed that boosting morale through better pay and welfare should be a government priority.
“Those pushing for the sack of the present Service Chiefs have ulterior motives and do not mean well for the administration or Nigerians. I reiterate my call for a proactive TEAM approach, Training, Equipment, Ammunition, and Motivation. These measures would go a long way in countering terrorism, banditry, and insurgency.
It is uncharitable for any group to accuse the Service Chiefs of professional incompetence. All of them have the requisite training and experience in theatre operations. What they need is adequate ammunition and motivation. The salary of a private soldier in Nigeria is about N100,000 per month, and the daily allowance of N5,000 is unconscionable. People should refrain from making statements that could dampen the morale of our soldiers and officers in the field.”he said
