... House of Representatives Committee on Army in Closed Door Operational Meeting with Nigerian Army
The Chairman House Committee on Army, Honourable Abdullahi Mamudu has expressed the legislative support of the House of Representatives Committee on Army for the Nigerian Army to succeed in the fight against insurgency and other criminal activities in the country.
He stated this when he led members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army to play host to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, on Wednesday 8 November 2023 at Army Headquarters Abuja. The visit was the committee's maiden visit to the Nigerian Army.
Honourable Mamudu who disclosed that the committee had its first meeting yesterday has developed a four-week work plan to enable it to deliver on its mandate for the overall benefit of Nigerians said, the purpose of their visit is to highlight the Nigerian Army (NA) ongoing operations and its challenges to prioritize NA’s requirements in subsequent budgets.
He lauded the ongoing operations describing it as mind-blowing, noting that the Nigerian Army has recorded enormous success across various theatres of operations in the country.
"We are confident and hopeful that given all the required support legislation, the Nigerian Army will be able to go to greater heights in solving the security challenges we are facing in the country". he noted
In his remark, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, thanked members of the House Committee on Army for supporting the Nigerian army to fulfil its constitutional. Mandate in protecting the territorial integrity of the country.
"And I also want to place it on record that we recognise the fact that you speak for your constituents and we appreciate feedback that we get from you as the representatives of the people. So from the feedback we get from you, we have been able to meet the expectations of the citizenry of the country.
The Army Chief assured the House Committee of the officers and men of the Nigeriman's determination to continue to ensure that we extend the frontier of peace and stability across our country by addressing security challenges in all the six geopolitical regions of the country.
"We're ready, willing and able and work in partnership and Concerted with responsible Organisations, especially with the National Assembly to discharge our responsibility," he added
The Army Chief said he is optimistic that some challenges the Nigerian army is facing will be resolved through the assistance of the house committee.
The House Committee on Army is one the Standing Committees of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly by the power conferred in Section 62 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and Order XVIII B Rule 131, Ninth Edition, Standing Order of the House of Representatives, 2016.
This Order XVIII Rule 131 which established the Army Standing committee, gives it the oversight mandate on the activities of the Nigerian Army, and may also by specific mandate of the House engage on any matter as directed.