By Precious Igbonwelundu
The Nigerian Army Finance Corps (NAFC) has commenced a week-long training programme for Warrant Officers (WOs) and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) aimed at improving their skills and competences.
An annual ritual, this year’s training specifically highlighted the need to enhance transparency and accountability in the management of resources at the army’s disposal.
Declaring the training open on Wednesday in Lagos, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Farouk Yahaya, said it was specifically designed to improve the capabilities and competencies of the WOs/SNCOs to enable them function optimally as vital link between officers and soldiers.
Yahaya who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Fejokwu, said the army must continue to develop requisite skills and competences that would make it ready to achieve its constitutional duties.
“In view of the contemporary security challenges in Nigeria, the NA must remain steadfast, focused, disciplined and professional in dealing with these challenges, especially in a joint environment. Thus, the development and deployment of critical capabilities that will contribute significantly to the defence and security of our nation becomes imperative.
“The NA must of necessity be creative and improve its problem solving skills to be able to defeat all forms of adversaries, particulary non-state actors. To achieve this, the prudent utilisation of financial and indeed all resources cannot be overemphasised, especiaily in the face of dwindling resources.”
“In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, the theme of this conference has been aptly crafted as Repositioning NAFC WOs/SNCOS for professional and innovative financial services delivery in the NA.
“As financial advisers and custodians of NA financial resources at unit levels, you are expected to provide professional and innovative financial services in line with financial and other extant regulations. I am therefore delighted that this training week is taking place at a time when there is a greater demand for openness, prudence and accountability in the use of public funds.
“The prudent and efficient use of resources also becomes compelling given the anti-corruption drive of the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as dwindling national revenue due to the adverse effects of global COVID-19 pandemic,” said the COAS.
He commended the NAFC for effective delivery of quality professional advisory services, noting that there have been positive reforms towards the prompt payment of troops’ operation allowances and other related allowances in the army.
“I am also aware of the ongoing reforms towards improving accountability, transparent, quality audit and assurance services. All these innovations and reforms have added value to the NA and contributes significantly to enhancing and sustaining troops morale as well as compliance with government extant regulations,” he said.
In his remarks, Army’s Chief of Account and Budget, Maj.-Gen. Adekunle Adesope said the trainees were expected to professionally and administratively discharged financial services in support of all Nigerian Army’s constitutional dealings.
“This is one of the training programmes lined up in the activities of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps to train our Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs). Finance Corps operates in a very dynamic environment with new policies and innovations in financial management.
“So, from time to time, we update the knowledge of our men. Most importantly, we need to be more open in managing the scarce resources allocated to the Nigerian Army. We need to be more open in justifying whatever is appropriated to us. The payment of our men in various theatres of operations have always gone on well. What the COAS said is that he would sustain it for as long as we receive what is required from the government, we, on our part, will do the needful.
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