The Senate on Wednesday faulted the envelope budgeting system applied to Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies, warning that the funding model has weakened operational capacity and undermined national security efforts.
The criticism emerged during the 2026 budget defence of the Office of the National Security Adviser before the upper chamber.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), described the current allocation framework as inadequate and misaligned with the operational realities of the intelligence community.
He lamented that the non-release and partial release of capital funds in the 2024 and 2025 budgets had hampered the procurement of modern equipment and disrupted critical operations.
According to Abdullahi, sustained underfunding poses significant risks to the protection of lives and property, stressing that the National Assembly must prioritise adequate appropriations for the sector in the 2026 fiscal year.
The lawmaker also expressed displeasure over the recurring lateness of heads of federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies to budget defence sessions. He noted that some former lawmakers now serving in executive roles were among habitual offenders, while commending the punctuality of leaders of security and intelligence institutions.
In his presentation, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Sanusi, outlined key priorities for 2026, including intensified efforts against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping through improved intelligence gathering and strengthened community-based strategies.
Sanusi said the envelope budgeting system constrained operations in 2025, citing irregular releases of overhead funds, failure to implement capital appropriations and funding shortfalls affecting foreign service personnel.
He appealed for improved allocations and supplementary provisions in the 2026 budget cycle to enable swift responses to emerging threats.
“The recent declaration of a state of emergency on national security underscores the urgent need for proper funding,” he said.
