Defence Budget Not Reaching Armed Forces – SDP’s Adebayo Alleges

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has criticised the Senate for rejecting a proposal seeking an investigation into military spending amid worsening insecurity across the country.

Adebayo said accountability in defence expenditure should not be dismissed under the guise of protecting troop morale, insisting that Nigerians deserved to know how funds allocated to security were being utilised.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, the SDP chieftain questioned the impact of huge budgetary allocations to defence and security, saying such spending had yet to translate into meaningful improvement in the country’s security situation.

Adebayo said the real issue was not the amount budgeted for defence but whether the money actually reached the armed forces and was properly used for the purpose for which it was released.

He said, “The issue is not just budgeting money for defence. It is whether the money reaches the armed forces and is properly utilised. This administration budgeted ₦5.413 trillion for defence and security without any positive result.

“The legislative arms of government said they want to probe, but the Senate told Nigerians that it will undermine the troops’ morale and operational effectiveness. The truth of the matter is this: the money in question is even supposed to be for future defence, not for security or intelligence.

“So, don’t disturb yourself about that drama in the National Assembly. I can tell you that even the budget that is there now will not reach the armed forces. The budgeting system in Nigeria operates traditionally like an election. They will say we must hold elections every four years, yet it will be conducted anyhow.”

Adebayo argued that public funds appropriated for national security must be subject to proper legislative scrutiny, especially at a time when communities across the country are facing attacks, kidnappings and other forms of violent crime.

The former presidential candidate also criticised the Federal Government’s approach to tackling insecurity, particularly the policy of reintegrating repentant terrorists.

He said Nigerians deserved more effective and practical strategies that would protect vulnerable communities and prevent recurring attacks.

According to him, the country’s security challenges were not beyond solution if those in leadership were willing to take the right decisions and place the welfare of citizens above political considerations.

“These are problems we can overcome, but leadership must be willing to do what is right,” he said.

Adebayo maintained that insecurity could only be tackled through a combination of accountability, competent leadership, proper use of resources and policies that prioritise the safety of Nigerians.

Speaking on electoral reforms, the SDP stalwart called for constitutional amendments to guarantee the full independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He argued that the current arrangement, which gives the President the power to appoint electoral commissioners, weakens public trust in the electoral process.

“INEC cannot be truly independent when politicians appoint those running it,” he said.

Adebayo noted that credible elections remained central to addressing the country’s leadership challenges, stressing that electoral institutions must be insulated from partisan control.

Naija News reports that Adebayo’s comments came weeks after the Senate rejected a proposal to investigate military spending during a debate on the worsening security situation in the country.

The debate followed renewed bandit attacks in Oyo and Kwara states, which sparked fresh concerns among senators over the rising cases of kidnapping, killings and violent crimes nationwide.

During the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole proposed a review of military expenditure, arguing that funds allocated to the security sector should be subjected to greater scrutiny.

Oshiomhole said repeated Senate resolutions on insecurity would make little difference if there was no proper implementation and accountability.

Senator Sani Musa also supported the call, noting that substantial defence allocations had not produced the expected improvement in security outcomes.

Although the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, acknowledged concerns over accountability in the management of security funds, efforts to include a probe of military expenditure among the Senate’s resolutions failed after no senator seconded the motion.

A subsequent attempt to modify the resolution to accommodate a review of defence spending also failed to secure support.

The Senate eventually adopted its resolutions on insecurity without approving any investigation into military expenditure.

The development drew criticism from those who argued that worsening insecurity and rising defence budgets had made legislative oversight more necessary.

Senate Leader Defends Decision

Defending the decision days later, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said investigating military spending in the middle of ongoing security operations would be counterproductive.

Bamidele argued that subjecting the military to scrutiny during active operations could amount to putting troops on trial at a critical period.

He described such a move as unpatriotic and potentially harmful to national security efforts.

According to him, the priority of the Senate should be to support security operations rather than question defence expenditure during active military engagements.

The Senate Leader, however, clarified that the chamber was not opposed to accountability in the use of security funds.

He said oversight remained important but added that inquiries into the cost and management of military operations were better conducted after hostilities had subsided, rather than during an ongoing conflict.