The Nigerian Army has warned soldiers against adopting desperate measures to overcome current economic challenges in the country.
The Chief of Training and Operation, Army Headquarters, Maj.- Gen David Ahmadu gave the warning in a message to the Graduation Regimental Dinner for Direct Short Service Course 23 of Nigeria Army School of Infantry Jaji, Kaduna State.
He told the graduating officers that the economic situation was temporary and a result of measures adopted by government to reposition the economy for a better Nigeria.
“As the economic reforms progress, our country is bound to witness falling living standard for the majority of the population in the short term. The armed forces cannot be an exception.
“Hardship occasioned by the economic reforms may drive some personnel to adopt desperate measures to sustain their livelihood.” he noted.
Ahmadu advised the officers “to detect who among your men are desperate and who may be driven by hardship, fear of the unknown or greed to commit crime.
“It is your task to identify the desperate personnel, counsel them and if it is not possible to change them, show them the way out of the system before they harm the institution.”
He also spoke on the need for upcoming leaders in the military to be mindful of the rights of the civil populace and the rule of law in the course of their military engagements.
“Your generation will find that its conduct of military operations including training will become increasingly subject to questions of human right and the rule of law.
“Higher standards will now be demanded of your troops to act with greater restraint even in the face of obvious provocation.
“You must learn media management skills, which will enable you exploit the growing power of the mass media rather than trying to fight it.
“You will now find, unlike before, that an obscure action of a soldier, under you could redefine the entire perception and character of your operation because the media will define it for you.”
The general noted also that the growing sophistication of military weapons has made it imperative to have highly educated personnel to manage dwindling resources amidst high expectations.
“It will therefore be a challenge for your generation to devise the necessary skills, which will enable our military engage the services of the private sector to enhance our own efficiency.
“This will include evolving new ways to address personnel welfare problems particularly in areas of children education, Medicare, post service housing, pension and post retirement investment.”
According to him, the advancement in science and technology is changing the face of battle very significantly.
“Today’s weapons and equipment are sophisticated, fragile and complex. The semi-literate or the technologically deficient can no longer use them.”
He therefore charged the officers to evolve new management and leadership skills, delegate authority to the very low level.
“Your new soldier will be very conscious of his dues under military law and will demand for them.”
Ahmadu stressed that there would be no compromise in terms of total loyalty to constituted authority including the Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Army Staff and other superior officers.
NAN report that no fewer than 200 specialist officer cadet will pass out from the school on June 3, after 20 weeks of training.