COAS, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja
The Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, on Wednesday, sought the support of the National Assembly to enable the service to carry out its constitutional mandates effectively.
Lagbaja stated that the effectiveness of the Nigerian Army depends on the critical role of the legislature through appropriation.
He stated this when he received members of the Senate Committee on Army led by the Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Lagbaja said, “The Nigerian Army recognises the critical role of the legislature in the effective functioning of the military, and the committee is critical to the performance of constitutional responsibility as an Army.
“We know quite well that without you appropriating funds, the Army cannot perform its day-to-day function.”
He pledged the readiness of the Nigerian Army to continue to work harmoniously with the Senate Committee towards performing “constitutional responsibility effectively and in meeting the needs of the generality of Nigerians.”
“The Nigerian Army will continue to conduct operations in the field, combat the myriads of security challenges that confront us across the country, and will bring the military instrument of national power to bear and other areas where we can provide interventions and relief to Nigerians,” he added.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Yar’Adua, said the Nigerian Army was in good hands with Lagbaja as the Chief of Army Staff.
Yar’Adua advocated more and special funding for the force’s education and medical care for personnel and their families.
He said lack of such would dampen the morale of troops