The Nigeria Army on Wednesday said the training of its finance officers across the country is for them to function optimally within the ambit of the law.
The Army also urged the officers and soldiers to be proactive and proficient in the discharge of the constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of the citizenry.
The Nigerian Army Chief of Accounts and Budget, Major Gen. Adetokunbo Fayewimo, gave the directive while declaring open a two day capacity training for Finance Officers of the 3 Armoured Division Rukuba Barracks, Jos.
He also reminded the participants to remember that they are military personnel before being finance officers.
The training had the theme: Building Capacity for Professional and Efficient Financial Services Delivery in the Nigeria Army.
Fayewimo said, “The Divisional finance training is 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.
He added that the training is also aimed at equipping financial officers in the division with requisite skills to function optimally within their area of responsibility.
“Let me reiterate that the Nigeria Army is ready to defeat contemporary threats to all our national security.
Fayewimo urged finance officers of the Nigeria Army to be “proactive and proficient ” in the discharge of their duties.
Adding that doing the aforementioned will ensure that “All financial services are rendered to the personnel at the right place and time.
“You must always remember that you are a military personnel of the Nigerian Army, before being finance officers”, he stressed.
The Chief of Accounts and Budget further stated that all divisions in the country will undertake the training.
Earlier in his address, GOC 3 Armoured Division of the Nigeria Army, Rukuba, Jos, Major 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 Nigeria Army, training remains paramount in the discharge of our duty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“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 OPSH, said, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has been making concerted efforts to ameliorate these challenges, to reposition the country to achieve sustainable development.
He 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’.’
In his welcome remarks, the Acting Commander\, Finance and Accounts, 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.
“The training is also meant to enhance the capacity of finance officers in rendering professional services to the Nigerian Army in the 3 Armoured Division”, he maintained.