Ahead of the 2019 General elections, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has ordered the setting up of a Standing Special Court Martial to try senior army officers found complicit in favouring certain political groups and showing partisanship to politicians.
He Chief warned that any Nigerian Army personnel found hobnobbing with politicians or being partisan will be investigated and sent to the Special court Martial for trial.
Speaking at the COAS First Quarter Conference 2018 in Abuja, Buratai told senior officers including PSOs, GOCs, Commandants of Tri-service institutions and Field Commanders and Corps Commanders, that any one that runs fowl of his professional ethics will be appropriately dealt with.
His words, “I must state clearly that any officer or soldier who wishes to be sympathetic to a political, religious or ethnic group should voluntarily retire from the Nigerian Army.
“Furthermore, all are reminded on the ban on any form of worship outside the barracks except those permitted for wedding and other social functions.
“Therefore, officers and soldiers must restrain themselves from any act of political, religious or ethnic patronization as these would attract severe consequences.
“The fate of the 38 officers who were retired (on account of alleged involvement in politics) is still fresh in our memories”.
While noting that recently, concerns have been raised by individuals and groups about the actions of some units and formations in the course of operations, Buratai said, “This has led to very strong criticisms against the Nigerian Army. Some of the strongest comments have come from key citizens in Taraba State.
“Therefore, let me state emphatically that the unity and integrity of Nigeria lies on the military and the Nigerian Army in particular.
“Any act inimical to the unity and integrity of this country by personnel of the Nigerian Army will be decisively dealt with.
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“The Nigerian Army must remain apolitical and professionally responsive in the discharge of its constitutional roles.
“GOCs and Field Commanders at all levels are therefore warned that anyone that flouts his professional ethics will be appropriately dealt with”.
On the war against insurgency and other criminality, the Army Chief said, “The successes achieved by troops in the ongoing operations particularly, Ops Lafiya Dole, has placed the Nigerian Army on a good stead and the momentum must be sustained and consolidated.
“However, in conjunction with other services and security agencies, the Nigerian army must also deal decisively with other security challenges such as farmers/herdsmen clashes, armed banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, militant activities among other violent crimes.
“Operation Deep Punch 2 in the North East and Exercise Ayem Akpatuma in the North Central have achieved tremendous successes leading to the arrest of key suspects as well as recovery of arms and ammunition in Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Niger and Taraba States.
“The conduct of Exercise Ayem Akpatuma has been extended in Taraba state till 30th May 2018 based on the prevailing security situation in the state. While paying tribute to the officers and men in the field, I urge you all not to relent on your efforts at ensuring a safer Nigeria”, he said.
The Army Chief used the opportunity to launch the upgraded Nigerian Army Integrated Payment System (e-NAPS) aimed at electronically capturing all financial transactions including salary payments, operational allowances and equipment purchase payments for easy verification in terms of query.
Chief of Accounts and Budget, Major General Ezra Jakko explained that by keying into the Federal Government IPPIS scheme, the Nigerian Army Finance Corp has been able to substantially reduce and checkmate challenges arising from payment of salaries, particularly payment of allowances of troops in several operations across the country.
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