General Tukur Buratai, Chief of
Army
General Tukur Buratai, Chief of
Army Staff
Army Builds 22 Command Schools, Provides ICT Centres in
4 years
The Nigerian Army (NA) has established 22 new Command Secondary
Schools across the country to foster the educational needs of its
personnel and the society at large.
It has also executed critical intervention projects in the areas
of constructions and renovations of classrooms, provision of ICT
Centres as well as vehicles to meet personnel training and
operational requirements.
These were the revelations made by the Chief of Army Staff
(COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, at a seminar for
“Commandants, Bursars and Administrative Officers of Command
Secondary School in the Nigerian Army.”
The event, organized by the Army Headquarters, was held at the
Army Resource Centre in Asokoro, Abuja.
Speaking at the seminar themed: “Enhancing the Capacity of
Personnel for Efficient Procurement and Financial Management in
Command Secondary Schools,” Buratai, stressed that the importance
of education and having a conducive learning environment in Army
Command Schools cannot be over-emphasized.
He noted that the quality and standard of Army schools is
paramount in the development of the society, as well as the
country’s future leaders in various fields.
“As such, there is need for a prudent management of available
resources and capacity to generate revenues in Army Command
Schools, in order to ensure the attainment of the dreams of their
founding fathers,” he said.
The COAS, assured that his leadership will continue to look
inwards to upgrading Army schools, while also collaborating with
relevant stakeholders towards their effective development.
Buratai, pointed out that the maintenance of equipment and
facility rest squarely on the shoulders of those saddled with the
responsibility to administer the Command schools, at any given
time.
He said: “It is a challenge to us all and a mark of
responsibility to maintain our facility and also ensure
accountability, which require a change in attitude from all
personnel.”
The Army Chief explained that the seminar, which is the fifth in
the series, has continued to provide avenue to imbue participants
with the requisite knowledge in procurement procedures and ethics,
which will aid them in contributing to procurement matters in the
field.
He stated that the forum will present the Army management with
an opportunity to appraise its performance in the management of the
NA Schools, with a view to reinvigorating its effectiveness and
enhancing their efficiency.
“The theme of the seminar has been carefully chosen to reinforce
and demonstrate my total commitment to training and manpower
development of personnel, as a sure means of increasing efficiency
and productivity indices.
“Furthermore, the seminar will not have come at a better time
than now, when there are renewed efforts to improve the state of
infrastructure and internal accounting procedure in Command
Secondary schools across the country,” Buratai said.
In a welcome address, Brigadier General Ephraim T. Essien,
Army’s Director of Procurement, said the procurement seminar has
been a veritable forum for sharing knowledge and ideas on
procurement processes and procedures in line with the PPA 2007, and
other extant procurement regulations.
“The objective of this seminar is to broaden the knowledge and
capacity of officers and men on procurement processes and financial
procedures for improve productivity and efficiency in the NA,” he
said.
By PRNigeria