The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Sen Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako has commended the financial prudence of the Ministry of Defence after reviewing the 2021 buget performance and utilisation of the Ministry.
Sen Wamako who chaired the 2022 budget defence session, presented by the Minister of Defence Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi noted that the delivery of services by the Ministry and its Agencies was remarkable.
He said the National Assembly considers absolute security and safety of the country as a top priority and that the Legislators will continue to respond, support and encourage all critical MDAS towards discharging their constitutional duties.
The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi had earlier presented a budget proposal to the Senate Committee on Defence in the sum of N21. 6 billion for the 2022 fiscal year.
Gen Magashi explained that the sum of N4.1billion is budgeted for Capital Expenditure while N15.4 billion is for the Recurring Expenses and N2 billion is to cater for the Overhead Cost in the 2022 budget requirement.
The Minister informed the Senators that Executive assessment of the performances of the Service Chiefs indicates that the Supplementary budget provided by the government is greatly up scaling the success rate in the nation’s fight against insecurity and the campaign for peace across the land.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Musa Istifanus, who accompanied the Minister to the National Assembly, appreciated the promptness and dexterity of the Upper Chamber in attending to the matters of the Ministry.
Musa Istifanus disclosed that the Minister had ensured the utilisation of the IT facilities in conducting governance to cut costs on the purchase of stationary including photocopy papers, writing materials as well as saving workers energy and ensuring timely output.
In attendance at the budget defence session were some Management Staff and Desks officers on budget
