Adebayo demands accountability in defence spending

…Says Nigeria Yet to Achieve True Democracy

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has called for greater transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s defence expenditure, insisting that concerns about troop morale should not prevent scrutiny of security spending.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Adebayo said Nigerians have a right to know how funds allocated to security are spent, including details of procurement and implementation.

According to him, accountability in defence spending is necessary to ensure that budgetary allocations translate into improved security outcomes.

The SDP chieftain questioned the effectiveness of the government’s security strategy, arguing that substantial allocations to defence and security have not produced commensurate improvements in the country’s security situation.

He also criticised the policy of reintegrating repentant terrorists, saying Nigerians deserve strategies that more effectively protect communities from violent attacks.

Commenting on calls for legislative oversight of military spending, Adebayo said transparency should not be sacrificed in the name of protecting troop morale or operational effectiveness.

He maintained that the key issue was not the size of security budgets but whether allocated funds reach the armed forces and are properly utilised.

Adebayo also argued that Nigeria has yet to attain true democracy, describing the country’s political system as civilian rule rather than a fully functioning democracy.

While noting that Nigeria has experienced uninterrupted civilian governance since 1999, he said democratic principles such as accountability, credible elections, rule of law and citizens’ welfare remain weak.

The former presidential candidate warned that worsening poverty and insecurity could trigger deeper social and political instability if not urgently addressed.

According to him, economic hardship has contributed significantly to insecurity, adding that failure to tackle both challenges could have far-reaching consequences.

On President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Adebayo said many Nigerians are struggling to reconcile government promises with current economic realities.

He argued that while long-term planning is important, government must prioritise immediate concerns such as hunger, education and security.

Adebayo also dismissed claims that the administration is implementing meaningful reforms, contending that policy changes have yet to produce structural improvements in governance and the economy.

He further called for reforms to strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including constitutional amendments to remove presidential powers to appoint electoral commissioners.

The SDP leader also advocated real-time transmission of election results and improvements in the electoral process to enhance transparency and restore public confidence in elections.

Despite his criticisms, Adebayo expressed confidence that Nigeria’s challenges could be overcome through responsible leadership, effective governance and policies focused on the welfare of citizens.

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