The Nigerian House of Representatives has urged the country’s Army to adopt counter-insurgency training for officers and men of the military force to enable it to tackle the ravaging insecurity.
The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Army, Abdulrazak Namdas gave the advice when the Commandant of Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Stephen Olabanji appeared before the committee to defend the command’s 2022 budget proposal.
Adequate Funding
Namdas emphasised the need for adequate funding for the training and retraining of officers and soldiers to enable the military address the security challenges in the Country.
He said; “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists.
“As a Committee, we’ll continue to support the Army. However, funds appropriated must be judiciously used.”
Responding, the Commander Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Stephen Olabanji said the Army was expected to commission about 3,885 cadets into the officer’s cadre in 2022.
“The budget for training of personnel is to cater for all the 3,885 cadets and 18,000 recruits absorbed into the Army for the defence of the nation’s territorial integrity,” he stated.
While describing the 26.2 billion Naira allocated for the training command as inadequate, Major General Olabanji however urged the Committee to raise the commands Budget to enable it to meet its obligations.
VON