Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South has issued a bold call for the Federal Government to reevaluate its spending priorities, urging a significant reduction in non-essential services including the operations of the National Assembly to redirect funds toward tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
In an interview on Thursday, Ndume proposed that legislative sessions be held less frequently, perhaps quarterly, with lawmakers’ compensation adjusted to reflect the reduced workload. He argued that the country can no longer afford to maintain costly bureaucratic routines while citizens face daily threats from insurgents, kidnappers, and bandits.
“We need to make tough choices,” Ndume said. “If it means suspending some discretionary services, including our own sittings in the National Assembly, then so be it. Public safety must come first.”
The veteran senator expressed frustration over the continued flow of recurrent and overhead expenditures despite the 2025 budget still being unresolved. He questioned who truly benefits from such spending, noting that it serves a small fraction of the population while the majority remain vulnerable.
“We’re spending billions on systems that don’t protect the average Nigerian,” he added. “Let’s shut down what’s unnecessary and use those resources to secure lives and restore peace.”
Ndume’s remarks reflect growing concern among lawmakers and citizens alike about the imbalance between government spending and the urgent need for security investment. His proposal challenges the status quo and calls for a national conversation on fiscal responsibility and the true purpose of governance.
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