Nigeria’s Defence Budget Under Scrutiny As Adebayo Claims Funds Don’t Reach Military

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has faulted the Senate for rejecting a proposal to probe military spending, despite rising insecurity across the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Adebayo argued that concerns about transparency in defence expenditure should not be dismissed under the pretext of protecting troop morale, insisting that Nigerians have a right to know how security funds are being spent.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, he questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s large defence allocations, noting that they have not translated into meaningful improvements in national security.

According to him, the key issue is not the size of the budget, but whether the funds actually reach the armed forces and are properly utilised for their intended purpose.

“The issue is not just budgeting money for defence. It is whether the money reaches the armed forces and is properly utilised. This administration budgeted ₦5.413 trillion for defence and security without any positive result,” he said.

He criticised the Senate’s position that a probe could weaken troop morale, arguing that accountability should remain a priority even in sensitive sectors like defence.

Adebayo also questioned how defence funds are managed, alleging that a significant portion of allocated resources may not be reaching the military.

He further compared Nigeria’s budgeting process to electoral practices, describing it as inconsistent and poorly implemented.

Beyond the issue of defence spending, Adebayo also condemned the government’s approach to insecurity, particularly the policy of reintegrating repentant terrorists, saying it lacked effective safeguards for affected communities.

He maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges could be addressed if leaders prioritised accountability, efficient resource management, and the safety of citizens over political considerations.

On electoral reforms, Adebayo called for constitutional changes to ensure the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that presidential appointment of electoral officials undermines public trust.

He insisted that credible elections are essential to resolving Nigeria’s leadership challenges and stressed the need to insulate electoral bodies from political influence.

His remarks followed the Senate’s decision to reject a motion seeking investigation into military spending during a debate on worsening insecurity in parts of the country, including recent attacks in Oyo and Kwara states.

While some lawmakers supported calls for scrutiny of defence expenditure, the motion failed to scale through after it was not seconded.

Although Senate leadership defended the decision, arguing that probing military operations during active security engagements could be counterproductive, critics like Adebayo insist that oversight remains essential given the scale of insecurity and rising defence budgets.