The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has tasked personnel of the Nigeria Army to be proud champions of democracy.
“The only thing better than democracy for our country in this modern era is more democracy”, he said at the Passing Out Parade of Executive Commission Course 1/ 2022 cadets, held at the Nigerian School of Infantry Jaji, on Saturday.
He reminded all officers and men of the Nigerian Army that subordination of the military to constituted authority remained the most fashionable means of promoting military professionalism.
“By more democracy, I mean flourishing, uninterrupted constitutional democratic governance that promotes our values and the interest of every well-meaning Nigerian, irrespective of tribe or religious affiliation.
“I therefore charge all Nigerian Army personnel to be proud champions of our flourishing democracy and remain apolitical in discharging their constitutional duties.”
The COAS congratulated them for successfully completing the rigours of cadet training required for the Presidential Commission as officers in the Nigerian Army.
He said that the training programme “is a rite of passage that must be undertaken before you can be granted a Presidential Commission as an officer in the Nigerian Army.
“I believe you are no strangers to the fact that Nigeria currently exists in a complex and volatile domestic and external environment with diverse security challenges.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies are today confronted with a plethora of threats which include the activities of the substantially degraded Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province terrorist groups in the North East.
“Abductions, kidnappings and banditry in the North West and North Central; secessionist agitations by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network in the South East; and youth restiveness, crude oil related and sundry crimes in other parts of the South.”
He therefore said it was imperative to nip these threats to Nigeria’s collective security and economic prosperity.
“Thus, the Nigerian Army and its sister services embarked on various manpower drive to build needed human capacity to manage not only the security situation of today but also of the future.
“To this end, the executive commissioning programme was conceptualized as one of the avenues through which the officer cadre of the Armed Forces is resourced with quality manpower.”
Lagbaja said a key idea behind the executive commission programme in the Nigerian Army is to reward disciplined, loyal, and hardworking soldiers who have the requisite qualities and competencies.
“As you reap the reward of hard work and are granted a Presidential Commission this day, I charge you to brace up for the arduous task ahead because situations will challenge you and test your resilience, patriotism, and loyalty to constituted authority.”
He also encouraged them to rekindle their zeal and redouble efforts in carrying out all tasks that will be assigned to them as officers.
The COAS assured them that the Nigerian Army understood the peculiarity and limitations of their type of commission and has taken necessary measures to cater for their welfare and well-being in and post service.
“As you chart a course in the Army from today, I encourage you to continue to develop yourselves through active participation in the various trainings and courses available in the Army to prepare you for a fulfilling career.
“My command philosophy, which is to “transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment,” is instructive, and you have a role to play in its realization,” he added.
The COAS assured Nigerians that the Army remained committed to ensuring the security of lives and properties across the country.
“The Army is working assiduously to protect the territorial integrity of our nation and support relevant security agencies in ensuring the security of lives and properties within the country,” Lagbaja said,
The Army Chief commended the Commandant Nigerian Army School of Infantry and his team for the intensive, focused, and realistic training they provided to the passing out cadets.
He appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his leadership approach and continuous support to the Nigerian Army.
“I shall not fail to use this all-important platform to reaffirm the commitment and unalloyed loyalty of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to the government and the Constitution of our great nation.
“As I mentioned earlier, our democracy is a cherished value, and the Nigerian Army is poised to defend and strengthen it and not contribute to undermining, let alone truncating it,” Lagbaja said.
Awards were presented to officers who distinguish themselves during the three months training of the 239 cadets who were commissioned.
