Air Force Budget Falls Short, Says NASS Joint Committee
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Air Force has rejected the proposed 2025 budget of the Nigerian Air Force, describing it as inadequate to sustain the level of firepower required to effectively combat insurgency across the country.
The Committee said the proposed allocation falls short of meeting the operational and strategic demands of the Air Force, especially amid prevailing security challenges nationwide. Consequently, the lawmakers resolved to set up a mini-committee to engage the Federal Government, the Budget Office, and relevant legislative committees to develop a more realistic and sustainable funding framework.
Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the House Committee on Air Force, Hon. Kabir Alhassan, disclosed that the revised budget, when finalized, would be presented to the Joint Committee for consideration and approval.
He noted that the goal is to strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigerian Air Force in line with its constitutional mandate.
Clarifying issues surrounding the 2025 budget cycle, Hon. Alhassan explained that although a portion of the capital components has been shifted to 2026 due to fiscal constraints, the funding level remains insufficient to address the Air Force’s operational needs.
He emphasized that any funding eventually provided, particularly in 2026, must be adequate to support the operational and strategic requirements of the Air Force.
The Joint Committee also called on the Federal Government to extend maximum cooperation to ensure a timely and effective review process, stressing that Nigerians urgently require decisive and well-funded security interventions to address the nation’s security challenges.
The Committee expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that national security institutions are properly funded in the interest of peace, stability, and national security.
