BY: NASIRU MOHAMMED WAZIRI, KANO
Concern over the management of public resources allocated to Nigeria’s security sector has continued to generate serious questions about accountability, welfare and the responsibilities of those entrusted with public office.
Speaking during an interview, Malam Auwal Abubakar Baji, expressed deep concern over what he described as practices that could undermine the welfare of security personnel and weaken public confidence in government institutions.
According to Baji, the issue should not be treated as an ordinary administrative matter because the security sector occupies a particularly sensitive position in the affairs of the nation.
Soldiers, police officers and other security personnel are routinely deployed to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other threats to lives and property.
He argued that personnel who risk their lives in the service of the country deserve to receive the allowances and other legitimate entitlements approved for their duties.
“THESE ARE PUBLIC FUNDS”
Baji stressed that money appropriated for security operations is ultimately public money and should therefore be administered with the highest level of transparency, discipline and accountability.
His argument comes against the background of Nigeria’s established budgetary system, under which government expenditure is authorised through appropriation and monitored through budget implementation and accountability mechanisms.
The Budget Office of the Federation publishes appropriation documents and budget implementation reports as part of the federal public-finance process.
He therefore questioned what happens when resources intended for operational activities, personnel welfare or other legitimate security purposes do not reach their intended beneficiaries.
For Baji, the question is not merely financial; it is also moral.
“If you eat or take something that does not belong to you, do you not fear Allah?”
The statement reflects his appeal to both public officials and individuals entrusted with government resources to remember that public funds carry a responsibility beyond administrative procedure.
In his view, the management of public resources should be guided not only by regulations but also by conscience, integrity and the fear of God.
THE HUMAN COST OF SECURITY OPERATIONS
Baji also drew attention to the human dimension of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Security personnel are often deployed under extremely difficult conditions, sometimes spending long periods away from their families and operating in areas where their lives are constantly at risk.
Some have sustained injuries, while others have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Against this background, he argued that questions surrounding allowances, equipment, logistics and welfare should receive serious attention.
The federal budget framework demonstrates that personnel costs and allowances form part of public expenditure in the defence sector.
Official budget documents, for example, contain specific provisions for salaries, benefits and allowances, alongside operational and other recurrent expenditures.
The broader principle is therefore clear: where funds are appropriated for a defined public purpose, there must be mechanisms to ensure that the money is properly accounted for and that the intended service is delivered.
WEAPONS AND VEHICLES BELONG TO THE STATE
Another issue raised by Baji concerns government-owned equipment used by security agencies.
He emphasize that weapons, vehicles and other operational assets acquired with public funds are not the personal property of individual officers or officials.
They are assets of the Nigerian state, acquired ultimately for the protection of citizens.
This distinction, he suggested, should never be forgotten.
Government assets are expected to be managed according to established procedures, with appropriate records, controls, maintenance and accountability.
The Budget Office itself identifies transparency, accountability, probity, prudence and responsibility among the core values of public financial management.
Baji’s concern, therefore, is that public assets must remain tied to the public purpose for which they were acquired.
A QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP AND TRUST
At the centre of Baji’s intervention is the issue of public trust.
When citizens contribute to government revenue through taxes, duties and other sources, they expect those resources to be used for the common good. When the government appropriates money for security, citizens equally expect that investment to translate into better protection, improved operational capacity and appropriate welfare for personnel.
The Federal Government’s budget framework provides for expenditure planning, implementation and monitoring. The existence of these mechanisms makes accountability an essential part of governance rather than an optional activity.
For Baji, failure to address concerns about the management of security-related resources could deepen public frustration and weaken confidence in government.
“WHAT WILL BECOME OF THIS GOVERNMENT ?”
It was against this background that Baji repeatedly expressed his frustration during the interview.
His appeal was directed particularly at those with the authority to investigate, supervise and correct weaknesses in the system.
He maintained that where allegations or complaints concerning public funds arise, they should not simply be ignored. Rather, they should be subjected to appropriate administrative, financial or investigative processes so that the facts can be established and responsibility assigned where wrongdoing is proven.
This distinction is important. Allegations of financial misconduct require evidence and due process. At the same time, credible complaints concerning public resources should not be dismissed without examination.
The Way Forward
Baji’s intervention ultimately amounts to a call for stronger accountability in the management of resources dedicated to national security.
Such accountability could include:
Proper documentation and monitoring of security-related expenditure;
Timely payment of approved personnel allowances and legitimate entitlements;
Stronger oversight of government-owned weapons, vehicles and other assets;
Regular auditing of security-related expenditure;
Effective channels for personnel to report non-payment or administrative irregularities;
Transparent investigation of credible allegations of financial misconduct; and
Appropriate sanctions where wrongdoing is established through due process.
These measures would not only protect public resources but could also strengthen institutional confidence and reinforce the relationship between the government, security personnel and the citizens they serve.
A MORAL APPEAL
Beyond budgets, figures and administrative procedures, Baji’s message carries a moral dimension.
His repeated invocation of the fear of Allah reflects his belief that public office is a trust and that those entrusted with public resources will ultimately be accountable for how they discharge that responsibility.
For him, the question is simple but profound: if resources are provided for the protection of the nation, can those entrusted with them justify what they do with them before God, the law and the
NIGERIAN PEOPLE ?
As Nigeria continues to confront serious security challenges, the debate over security expenditure must therefore go beyond how much government spends.
It should also examine how effectively those resources reach their intended purposes, how security personnel are treated, how government assets are protected and how public officials are held accountable.
Baji’s closing appeal was therefore directed at those responsible for governance: the concerns must be heard, the facts must be established, and where corrective action is necessary, it should be taken.
For him, the integrity of public administration is inseparable from the welfare of the people—and in matters involving national security, the cost of failure can be measured not only in naira but also in human lives, public trust and the future of the nation.