Ndume suggested that lawmakers could meet less frequently perhaps quarterly with their compensation adjusted to reflect the reduced sitting schedule. He argued that Nigeria should cut spending on areas that do not significantly benefit most citizens and instead prioritize public safety.
“Urgently, we must discard everything, as far as I am concerned. Even if it becomes necessary to shut down some discretionary services, starting with the National Assembly, we should do so. You can cut it off and ask us to sit maybe once in a quarter,” he said.
Ndume also raised concerns about ongoing recurrent and overhead costs despite the unresolved status of the 2025 budget.
“We sit depending on the workload we have and are paid accordingly. Yet the 2025 budget is not running; we are already in 2025, but recurrent and overhead costs are still running. Who is benefiting? Less than five percent of Nigerians, and it is a lot of money. So why don’t we shut down all these things and use the money to secure the people first?” he stated.
Responding to suggestions that his proposal might cause friction with his colleagues, Ndume said he was unconcerned about any backlash. He noted his long experience in the legislature, adding, “I have been in trouble before so many times.”
He clarified his stance: “I am not saying you should shut down the National Assembly. Let me be clear it is not because you have scared me. What I am saying is that realistically, our house is on fire, and we need everything to put that fire out. So if that means the National Assembly has to reduce its activities so that our pay is reduced and the money is redirected to security, I am sure many of my colleagues will agree.”
In discussing the role of technology in addressing insecurity, the senator highlighted Nigeria’s limited tracking and surveillance capabilities. He pointed out that the country currently operates only a few satellites, which he believes are insufficient for effective security monitoring.
“You know that one of the fundamental problems we have in the security sector is that we lack the ability to track criminals in real time. Nigeria has only four satellites, and one has issues,” he said.
He added that while the existing satellites offer some capability, they fall short of what is needed to meet the scale of security challenges. Citing recent incidents, he said, “Why were we not able to trace the general who went missing in action? It was because we don’t have adequate tracking systems.”
Amid escalating attacks and abductions by gunmen and suspected terrorists, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency. He also announced additional recruitment into the Armed Forces and the police.
“Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces. By this declaration, the police and the army are authorised to recruit more personnel. The police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000,” he said in a personally signed statement.
