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By Seyi Babalola
A coalition of civil society organisations has commended the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, for what it described as sweeping reforms aimed at improving professionalism and operational efficiency within the Nigerian Army.
The coalition, led by Nigeria Integrity Watch and its National Convener, Dr. John Samuel Nangi, said the Army under Shaibu had witnessed improvements in discipline, combat readiness, and personnel welfare.
In a statement issued on Monday, the groups said the Army chief’s leadership had helped tackle issues such as desertion and voluntary retirements among officers and soldiers.
According to the coalition, a major part of the reforms is the introduction of a new “Command Philosophy” focused on professionalism, agility, resilience, and operational effectiveness.
The groups noted that the Army leadership had acknowledged the changing nature of security threats in the country, stressing the need for improved intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and cyber operations.
They also highlighted the establishment of “PROSE” — an administrative and operational framework which stands for Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation, and Exemplary Leadership.
The coalition further praised the introduction of a “Soldier-First Culture,” describing it as a policy aimed at prioritising the welfare, training, and motivation of troops.
It quoted the Army chief as saying that effective leadership must be built on “character, courage, and genuine concern for personnel.”
The organisations also commended officers and personnel of the Nigerian military for their efforts in tackling insecurity across the country and urged Nigerians to support security agencies with credible information.
The groups added that cooperation among the military leadership, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and Chief of Air Staff, had contributed to recent operational gains in the fight against insecurity.
