The Senate has rejected a motion for a comprehensive audit of Nigeria's security spending, despite rising concerns over kidnappings and violence nationwide. The debate followed a recent attack in which nine people were kidnapped and schoolteacher Michael Oyedokun was killed, along with several others, including a toddler. Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, urged the chamber to investigate defence expenditure, procurement, and operational effectiveness, citing a pattern of unimplemented Senate resolutions on insecurity. He questioned why previous motions had not led to tangible outcomes, asking, "what specific actions have been taken as a result of those resolutions?"
Oshiomhole referenced the abduction of schoolchildren in Kebbi State, noting that military personnel had reportedly been withdrawn from the area before the attack. He said the Senate had previously requested information on which officer ordered the withdrawal and what disciplinary action followed, but no response had been received. "If the armed forces are not accountable, and we fail to conduct proper oversight of the resources appropriated for security, then we cannot continue lamenting the deterioration of security across the country," he said. He called for a full audit to track how security funds are used.
Senator Mohammed Sani Musa supported stronger oversight, stating that despite large annual allocations to defence, insecurity persists. He pointed out that military hardware, recruitment, and reforms have been prioritised, yet personnel still report lack of equipment and unpaid allowances. "Every year we allocate huge resources to security, yet we still hear complaints about a lack of equipment and unpaid allowances. We need to ask: where is the money going?" Musa asked. Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin acknowledged the legitimacy of accountability demands. However, when Oshiomhole moved to include a probe into military spending in the Senate's resolutions, the motion failed to secure a seconder and was dropped.
Adams Oshiomhole questions the impact of past Senate resolutions on insecurity while offering another resolution unlikely to be implemented. The Senate debates accountability in defence spending even as it refuses to act on its own oversight mechanisms. If no seconder is found for a security audit motion, it suggests a lack of political will among lawmakers to enforce accountability. Nigerians remain exposed to violence while the institution meant to oversee security resources declines to exercise its authority.
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