SENATE CALLS FOR 100,000 NEW MILITARY RECRUITS, ORDERS PROBE OF SAFE SCHOOLS FUNDS
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HOTJIST NEWS
On Tuesday, the Senate called on President Bola Tinubu to approve the recruitment of 100,000 new military personnel to tackle insurgency, banditry, and the rising wave of school abductions across Nigeria.
Lawmakers also demanded a comprehensive investigation into the Safe School Programme, raising questions about how funds allocated to the initiative were spent amid repeated attacks on educational institutions.
Their concerns were heightened by the recent attack on Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where gunmen reportedly killed the vice principal and abducted 25 students.
The debate followed additional points raised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) during plenary, sparking a heated discussion on the country’s worsening security situation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the session before moving the chamber into a closed-door meeting to discuss sensitive matters.
Leading the push for large-scale recruitment and a security audit, Oshiomhole emphasized that the severity of insecurity necessitated a strategic expansion of the armed forces.
He stated, “I call on the President and the armed forces to recruit an additional 100,000 personnel to strengthen our troops. This initiative will also provide employment opportunities for our youthful population.”
He also demanded accountability for the Safe School Programme funds.
“Some have turned our security challenges into a business. We must not monetise the deaths of our citizens. What happened to the funds allocated for the Safe School Programme?” he asked.
Oshiomhole further called for a Senate-led investigation and the enhancement of technological capacity for security agencies.
“I urge the Federal Government and the relevant Senate committees to probe the funds appropriated for the Safe School Programme.
“I also call on the military to employ technology and tracking devices to locate and apprehend these criminals,” he added.
His proposal was unanimously seconded and adopted by lawmakers across party lines.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio endorsed both the recruitment of 100,000 new troops and the investigation into the Safe School Programme.
“We urge the Federal Government and the Senate committee to investigate the spending. Sadly, these criminals continue to target soft targets,” he said.
Akpabio also warned against politicising the issue of insecurity, offering condolences to the victims of the Maga school attack.
“Crime is crime, regardless of the administration in power. Even in advanced nations like the United States, crime occurs daily.
“All lives matter. May the souls of our fellow Nigerians, including the vice principal who lost her life protecting the students, rest in peace,” he added.
Despite Nigeria adopting the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, the country has experienced a decade-long pattern of attacks on educational institutions.
The policy, endorsed by the Federal Government, sets out measures to protect schools during armed conflicts. UNICEF has repeatedly called for its full implementation, emphasizing the importance of safe and inclusive learning environments.
media had earlier reported that gunmen attacked Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in the early hours of Monday, killing a vice principal and abducting several students.
A school guard was also injured during the assault. In response, security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the military, have launched a search-and-rescue operation.
The Senate debate also addressed the country’s current defence capabilities.
According to Global Firepower’s 2022 ranking, Nigeria retained its 35th position out of 142 countries and is considered the third most powerful military in Africa.
The report notes that Nigeria has 135,000 active personnel, a total military strength of 215,000, and no reserve component.
Nigeria’s military inventory includes 140 aircraft, 376 tanks, 2,019 armoured vehicles, 349 towed artillery units, and 47 rocket projectors, among other assets.
Despite these figures, senators argued that a significant gap exists between capacity and operational effectiveness, underscoring the need for fresh recruitment and enhanced protection of schools in conflict-prone areas.
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