The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has urged the Federal Government to reduce certain discretionary services, including activities of the National Assembly, as a way to redirect funds toward tackling rising insecurity in Nigeria.

The senator stated this on Thursday while speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He suggested that lawmakers could meet less frequently, such as on a quarterly basis, with compensation reflecting the adjusted sitting schedule.

According to him, Nigeria should reduce spending on areas that do not significantly benefit the majority of citizens and focus instead on ensuring public safety.

“Urgently, we must discard everything as far as I am concerned and even if it is necessary to shut down some discretionary services, starting with the National Assembly. You can cut it off and ask us to sit, maybe in a quarter, for example,” he said.

The longest serving senator also highlighted concerns over ongoing recurrent and overhead costs despite the unresolved state of the 2025 budget.

“We sit for some time depending on the workload that we have, and are paid accordingly. And now, the 2025 budget is not running; we are in 2025, but the recurrent and overhead costs are running, and who is benefitting?

“Less than five per cent of Nigerians, and it is a lot of money. So, why don’t we shut down all these things and use the money to secure the people first,” he asked.