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THE Military is poised to recruit 12,000 this year into the Nigerian Army, to boost its operations across the country. Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general and chief of Army Staff, who disclosed during a budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Army, said the recruitment exercise would take place after the approval of the Army’s 2017 budget proposal of N152.8 billion.

Buratai said the recruitment exercise would be in two batches with 6,000 men in the first instance and another 6,000 later.

He said the Nigerian Army was currently engaged in different operations in 32 states of the federation, fighting criminalities such as kidnapping, terrorism, pipeline vandalism, cattle rustling, among others.

He also told lawmakers that lack of prompt release of funds was hampering military operations nationwide, adding that they needed to boost the morale of troops regularly.

The Army chief said the army face many challenges, which in some instances necessitated the deployment of Quick Response Groups to troubled areas and establishment of new units in some cases.

The committee, chaired by Rima Shawulu (PDP, Taraba State), lamented the poor living conditions of men of the Nigerian Army, calling on Buratai to ensure the provision of good accommodation for his men.

The budget defence could not continue as lawmakers resolved to constitute a subcommittee, comprising senators from the Senate Committee on Army, to thrash some technical details contained in the proposal.

—  Feb 15, 2017 @ 15:10 GMT

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