The Ministry of Finance told the Senate Committee on Army on Thursday that the Federal Government spent N198.84bn to fight terrorism from 2019 till date.
The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, in the finance ministry, Aliyu Shinkafi, said all the funds appropriated for the war against insurgency had been released to the military authorities.
The Permanent Secretary told the committee that N75bn was appropriated and released in 2019, adding that 7bn was released in 2019.
Shinkafi said N2.5bn was released in 2019 and tagged as ‘administration.’
The Permanent Secretary also told the senators that N75bn was appropriated in 2020 but that N74.99bn was released.
Ndume however, brought out a letter from the Chief of Defence Staff where he said the military authorities complained that they had shortfall of N50bn as far as releases from the Finance Ministry was concerned.
Ndume expressed dissatisfaction with the non appearance of the Minister at the meeting.
He therefore asked the committee’s secretariat to summon her, alongside the Director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze; and the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru for Tuesday.