By Chijioke Kingsley
The Nigerian Army has told financial officers that they are first of all military personnel before serving as financial officers of the Army.
The Army said this is very important because their primary duty as officers serving in the military is to first of all protect the territorial boundaries of the country and defeat all contemporary threats to the nation’s national security.
“Be proactive and proficient in the discharge of your constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property of the citizenry.
“You are military personnel first, before becoming finance officers”, the Nigerian Army Chief of Accounts and Budget, Maj.-Gen. Adetokunbo Fayewimo, said on Wednesday, while declaring open a two day capacity training for Finance Officers of the 3 Division Nigerian Army Jos.
The training of the Army finance officers, according to our correspondent, runs across military formations across the country with the aim to boost their performance within the ambit of the law.
The training with the theme: “Building Capacity for Professional and Efficient Financial Services Delivery in the Nigeria Army”, is however designed to address the training needs of finance officers and soldiers down to the battalion and company levels.
It provides a good platform in updating personnel on contemporary government financial policies, our correspondent monitored while listening to Nigerian Army Chief of Accounts and Budget Senior officer who came from Abuja.
“The training is also aimed at equipping financial officers in the division with requisite skills to function optimally within their area of responsibility”, Gen. Fayewimo said.
He continued: “Let me reiterate that the Nigeria Army is ready to defeat contemporary threats to all our national security.
“All financial services are rendered to the personnel at the right place and time.
“All divisions in the country will undertake the training”, he said.
Earlier in his address, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, said the importance of training in every organisation cannot be overemphasised, saying, “Training is an essential condition for success in any military activity.
“For the Nigerian Army, training remains paramount in the discharge of our duty.
“It thus becomes imperative to train officers and soldiers of the Nigeria Army continuously, to ensure they remain proficient to carry out their duties at all times”, he explained.
While acknowledging that the country is grappling with both insecurity and economic challenges, Abubakar, who also doubles as the Commander of Operations Safe Haven (OPSH), said the Federal Government of Nigeria has been making concerted efforts to ameliorate the insecurity challenges, to reposition the country to achieve sustainable development.
Abubakar said one of such efforts by the Federal Government is the public sector reform that has reviewed the utilisation of government funds.
“Regardless of these reforms, the Nigeria Army has continued to carry out its constitutional roles efficiently by ensuring the safety of lives and property of citizens while paying adequate attention to personnel welfare”.
Also on his part, the Acting Commander, Finance and Accounts, 3 Division, Col. C.H Ajoku, said, this is one of the three sub training aimed at equipping the finance corps with the necessary tools to enhance their performance.
