The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to explain to Nigerians how the $1 billion authorized by the Nigeria Governors Forum withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) in 2017 was spent.
Nigerian Governors Forum had in 2017 approved $1 billion for the federal government to fight insurgency.
The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa represented by the Program Manager of CISLAC, Salawudeen Hashim while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday said CSOs were of the opinion that the present administration should institutionalize the fight against corruption so that it will outlive it.
The Buhari led administration completes it tenure in 2023.
He said between 2015 and 2019, capital expenditure in the defense budget increased from 9.8 per cent in 2015 to 26.6 per cent in 2019, and is expected to average 27.3 per cent by 2024.
According to him, allocation towards the Navy is expected to decrease from 18.8 per cent during the historical period to 17.8 per cent over the forecast period despite a sharp increase of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said allocation to the army is expected to marginally increase from an average of 37.1 per cent during the historical period to 37.6 per cent over the forecast period which suggests spiral increase.
He said the President should, as a matter of urgency, brief Nigerians on the extent, status and the implementation plan of the National Defence Policy.
According to him, citizens are increasingly interested in the way and manner they are secured as well as the accountability infrastructure within the sector.
“CISLAC and partners will continue to relentlessly push for greater accountability and integrity of the defence architecture in Nigeria.
“We are determined to advocate for accountable defence spending, providing of declassified information to the public, increased integrity of defence personnel and civilian oversight of the defence sector in line with international good practice.
He also encouraged the authorities to cooperate with the civil society in a meaningful and cooperative manner.
“Nigerian national security requires multi-stakeholders’ engagement in line with principles of democratic and participatory governance, which Nigeria has proudly embraced,” he said.
