See why Senate suspended budget defense by paramilitary agencies

The Senate Committee on Interior has suspended budget defense by paramilitary agencies on account of the #ENDSARS protests apparently hijacked by hoodlums, Prestige News Online reports.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kashim Shettima, who gave the directive in Abuja, said most of the paramilitary agencies were victims of ongoing attacks by hoodlums.

He said the security agencies have submitted their 2021 budget details to the Committee therefore, it was needless to compel them to mandatorily appear before the panel.

“Those paramilitary organisations, the Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps submitted their budgets containing details of expenditure.

“We have received and will subject them to public scrutiny and when the need arises we will call them back to shed more light.

“In the light of the growing challenges and the issue of the pandemic we felt compelled not to dissipate their useful time and energy answering a lot of questions from us.

“If there is need for them to appear before us as we said earlier, we will call them back and subject them to scrutiny.

“We have the budget and there are explanations on how the funds are to be expended.

“If we want additional information we will inquire from them but right now some of their organisations are being attacked.

“Some of their offices were burnt down, so how do you expect us to hold them to ransom here while there are needs for them to attend to outside.”