Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss growing calls for the removal of Nigeria’s Service Chiefs, insisting that strengthening the Armed Forces through funding, training, and better welfare, not leadership changes, is key to defeating insecurity.
Ndume’s statement on Thursday followed a demand by the Northern Ethnic National Forum, which accused the military leadership of underperforming despite heavy funding and pressed for a total overhaul of the security hierarchy.
Countering the criticism, Ndume, former Senate Committee on Army chair, said the Service Chiefs possess “the requisite training and battlefield experience” but lack the resources and motivation needed to succeed.
“Those pushing for their sack have ulterior motives,” he said. “What the military needs is a TEAM approach, Training, Equipment, Ammunition, and Motivation to counter terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.”
He condemned the low remuneration of frontline troops, noting that a private earns about ₦100,000 monthly and a paltry ₦5,000 daily allowance. “Such conditions undermine morale. We must invest in our soldiers rather than demoralize them with reckless statements,” he added.
Ndume also commended Tinubu for ensuring ethnic and religious balance in security appointments, contrasting it with what he described as past imbalances.
His comments come amid renewed debate on Nigeria’s security strategy as armed groups continue to threaten national stability.