Posted by Tony Edike on
THE Nigerian Army has warned its officers in the Finance Corps to shun ostentatious lifestyle and flagrant display of wealth in the barracks, which tends to undermine other soldiers, saying the trend has constituted serious embarrassment to the force.
ENUGU - THE Nigerian Army has warned its officers in the Finance Corps to shun ostentatious lifestyle and flagrant display of wealth in the barracks, which tends to undermine other soldiers, saying the trend has constituted serious embarrassment to the force.
The Director Army Finance and Accounts, Major General S. A. Owuama, handed down the warning in an address at the Nigerian Army Finance Corps Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Training Week, which opened at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu yesterday.
He said the army authorities were worried by the display of affluence by some of the officers within the barracks, stressing that the development was not only embarrassing to the corps but also exposes the perpetrators to a lot of risks emanating from envy and jealousy.
"You are advised to shun any form of lifestyle that portrays you as arrogantly flashy. It is your responsibilities as Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) to advice your colleagues and Junior Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCOs) alike to desist from such acts," Owuama said.
Reminding the officers of the need to be disciplined and loyal to their commanders at all times, the Finance and Accounts Director, noted that discipline was the bedrock upon which the army profession revolves, adding that as personnel of the Finance Corps, "you must always appear as worthy ambassadors which should reflect in your resolve, action, appearance, confidence and commitment to duty."
He revealed that the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Army in particular were passing through an unusual moment in terms of funding because, according to him, resources at their disposal have continued to dwindle.
While the force was able to meet all obligations on payment of salaries and allowances, Owuama pointed out that not all non-mandatory allowances are paid as at when due.
He asked the senior officers of the corps to always educate their colleagues in the barracks on the shortfall in revenue so as to eradicate or reduce rumour mongering that could generate bad blood with the ranks.
"Within the corps, you are to continually uphold the motto "Honesty and Service" in all your actions and in whatever capacity you may find yourself; You must all strive to make the corps adding that they must shun the habit of lobbying for promotions and postings as such were designed to prepare them for higher challenges in consonance with their performance and career planning.
Owuama, who spoke on the recent verification of the army strength, explained that the measure tagged ""Exercise Know Your Soldier"", was aimed at determining the actual strength of the army and not to witch-hunt any officer. He said that the Nigerian Army needed a credible data that it could rely on in the course of her interaction with other agencies and institutions of government.
He explained that the Training Week, which was in line with the Chief Of Army Staff''s vision for the Nigerian Army ""to mould it into a compact, mobile and highly professional force that is feared by its enemies, respected by its allies and well regarded by the Nigerian people"", would assist in equipping the participants with the necessary tools needed to perform well in their present and future jobs with a view to increasing efficiency.