House of Reps calls for release of funds for troops to combat insurgency

The House of Representatives says it is set to confront anyone responsible for not applying funds meant for troops in the troubled north eastern part of the country.

The Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, said this when meeting with a delegation of the Unity Schools Old Students’ Association in the National Assembly.

“We cannot commandeer troops, we can only pass resolutions, we can only appropriate funds, we can of course oversee implementation but we have our limitations in following the money (appropriated funds).

“As parliamentarians, we might have to find new ways of improved oversight so that we can ensure that what is meant for the welfare of our soldiers, who have surrendered their lives to this country would be improved”, he said.

Mr Tambuwal warned, “A situation whereby we appropriate funds for our men to be well taken care of, to be well kitted, and for them to have the best of arms; and then somebody somewhere is playing politics or is not applying the funds judiciously is unacceptable and we are ready to take on whoever is involved in that.”

Mr. Tambuwal promised that the House would continue to support the Executive in the effort to bring the crisis in that part of the country to an end.