The House of Representatives has informed the Executive arm of government to secure the release of the remaining 113 Chibok schoolgirls and the last Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, still held in captivity before 2019.

It also raised concerns over claims that the Federal Government had so far bought $460m (N165bn) worth of military hardware from a US firm without appropriation by the National Assembly.

The money is said to be aside from the $1bn recently approved for release by President Muhammadu Buhari for the purpose of equipping the military.

Members were embittered as they debated a motion on the fate of the Chibok girls, saying that it was embarrassing that four years on, the government was unable to rescue them from Boko Haram.

They also noted that though the government succeeded in negotiating the release of the majority of the Dapchi schoolgirls, the achievement would be rated as “nothing,” so long as the last girl, Leah Sharibu, remained in captivity.

The lawmakers debated on a motion on the urgent need to rescue the girls to mark the fourth anniversary of their adoption.

It was moved by the member representing Damboa/Chibok Federal Constituency of Borno State, Mrs. Asabe Bashir.

The session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, urged the government to make the rescue of the girls its top priority ahead of the 2019 polls.

Speaking earlier, two members, Mr. Bode Ayorinde and Mr. Diri Douye, called on security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of the girls.

A member from Borno State, Mr. Mohammed Monguno, informed the House that the factional crisis among the Boko Haram insurgents did not help matters.

He said at every incident, the first move was to find out which of the factions carried out the attack.

Amid the debate, the Chairman, House Committee on Works, Mr. Toby Okechukwu, rose to complain about an alleged procurement of military hardware without appropriation by the National Assembly.

Okechukwu, who argued that the procurement was a breach of the privilege of members of the legislature, claimed that up to $460m or N165bn had been spent so far to buy weapons for the military.

Okechukwu recalled how the same government admitted that it spent N1.4tn on fuel subsidy annually without recourse to the National Assembly, a point earlier raised by another lawmaker, Mr. Karimi Sunday.

The House unanimously passed the motion on the Chibok girls and also directed its Committees on Finance, Ethics/Privileges to verify the allegation that $460m had already been spent on military hardware without appropriation by the National Assembly.