The Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, on Monday, promised the House of Representatives committee that the Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR), of the Service in the year 2022, would hit N232 million.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports Admiral Gambo made the revelation at the 2022 Budget defence session, with the House Committee on Navy, which hailed the Service’s performance in the 2021 budget.
Gambo said the Navy would make some money from the auction of some unserviceable equipment , Value Added Tax (VAT) among other sources.
He said that the Service under the 2022 Budget, intended to among other things, focus its ongoing fleet renewal, operations capacity and welfare of personnel.
The Naval Chief pleaded with the House to support the Navy to be able to deliver more effectively on its mandate.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, in his remarks said the 2022 budget proposal of the Navy, would enhance a reversal of the sad takes of insecurities within the mandated of the Navy, regretting that the heightened wind of insecurity was blowing rapidly across the nation.
Gagdi said,”this is coming at the heels where the current budget process for 2022 is most crucial towards addressing the difficult times that the wind of heightened security expectations by Nigerians is blowing rapidly across the country.
“This moment no doubt provides us with the opportunity for stocktaking and examining the future financial projections for the Navy to reverse the sad tales of insecurity within its mandate to Nigerians.
“This is also a chance for us to collectively ascertain what we all need to do in order to strengthen the Navy to carry out its functions without incumbrances.
“Recall that this honourable Committee in the exercise of its oversight powers as contained in sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) had between October 19th to 29th undertook an oversight visit to the Headquarters, Bases and Formations of the four (4) Commands of the Navy in order to acquaint itself with the achievements, challenges and future projections of the Nigerian Navy within the period under review.
“There were briefs and interactive sessions with the Navy and key maritime players in all the four (4) Naval commands across the country. The focus was on obtaining performances Jevels and indicators for future projections of the general activities of the Navy within the year under review.
“Owing to what were seen on ground and within the insufficient appropriations made in the exiting year 2021, this Committee did observe that there were generally commendable performances of the Navy in the last one year. The Chief of the Naval staff Vis the Navy Headquarters interventionist projects and projects approved in the last Budget and their level of implementation were fair indicators of good performance by the Navy.
“In honesty, the Committee observed that the air of relief in terms of the administrative prowess and strategic vision as well as the open door policy brought to bear in the Navy by the Chief of the Naval Staff has engendered effectiveness of Officers and Ratings in the discharge of their duties.
“There is now a cross ventilation of ideas and motivation provided by the Naval Chief to drive the Navy to enviable heights in terms of performance.
“Navy’s presence at sea has increased security in the water ways; professionalism is now brought to play; while this Committee is reflecting on the way that resources are been utilised to drive the Navy “Onward Together” with other sister security agencies in Nigeria and across the neighbouring countries. This must be commended.
“However, the Committee observed with pessimistic views, the split over projects (against agreed timelines) by some contractors including some that spanned beyond 3years period without any signs of completion, hand over to the Navy or concrete Work-In-Progress.
“Henceforth, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will not hesitate to call to order any MDA and in this case the Nigerian Navy where it fails to checkmate any airing contractor whose stock in trade is to waste tax payers monies by taking for granted the delivery of public goods and services within specified timeframe and quality of job(s)”, the Chairman said.
Gagdi said,where necessary, and in line with what the Committee saw on ground it would certainly recommend for increased budgetary allocations to the Navy.
“This is against the backdrop of the noted problems of the Navy which are enormous and there is need for open and legal recommendations for doors and more windows towards granting more legal powers to the Navy by way of providing sufficient legal frameworks”, he said.