Ex-COAS Urges Reforms in Recruitment, Training of Army, Harps on Prioritisation of Troops’ Welfare
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd), has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s military recruitment and training systems, while also urging the Federal Government to urgently address the welfare crisis facing soldiers, particularly in terms of accommodation, healthcare, and education.
Yahaya made the remarks during a keynote lecture at the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) held on Saturday at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. The lecture, part of a series of engagements marking the Nigerian Army’s 162nd anniversary, was themed “The Soldier First Concept and the Future of the Nigerian Army: Shaping a New Culture for Army Transformation.”
The former Army Chief emphasized that the foundation of a professional and combat-effective Army rests on rigorous recruitment, uncompromising training, and an unflinching commitment to the well-being of personnel throughout their careers.
“Recruitment and selection into institutions like the NDA and Depot Nigerian Army must be thorough and uncompromising. There is no room for mediocrity. We must be courageous and firm in weeding out bad eggs at every stage,” Yahaya declared.
He said modern security threats — including terrorism, insurgency, ideological extremism, and cyber warfare — demanded a more dynamic and forward-looking training regime. Yahaya called for a review of military curricula across all levels, incorporating themes such as emotional intelligence, military psychology, social media awareness, asymmetric warfare, and counter-terrorism.
Yahaya also advocated stronger partnerships with foreign military institutions from the United States, United Kingdom, and Pakistan, noting such collaborations would enhance the technical competence of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and small-unit commanders operating in decentralized conflict environments like the North East and Lake Chad region.
“The Army must build a force capable of executing small-unit warfighting with speed, precision, and initiative,” he said. “Senior non-commissioned officers must be empowered with leadership and tactical skills to bridge the gap in remote theatres of operation.”
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Turning to troop welfare, Yahaya issued a stern warning over what he described as the “grossly inadequate and unacceptable” accommodation standards across Nigerian Army barracks, especially for rank-and-file soldiers.
“Perhaps the greatest welfare challenge facing the Nigerian Army today is the lack of decent accommodation. Many personnel are forced to live in makeshift shelters, overcrowded rooms, or insecure civilian areas. We cannot expect soldiers to give their best in combat when they go home to squalor,” he said.
He traced the welfare strain to the Army’s rapid expansion in response to nationwide security threats — an expansion not matched by proportional growth in infrastructure.
Beyond housing, Yahaya also raised concerns about the lack of quality educational facilities for soldiers’ children and the cost burden of private schooling. He acknowledged ongoing efforts to expand welfare schools but called for greater investment in education within Army formations.
On healthcare, he recommended the establishment of rehabilitation centers for wounded and traumatized soldiers and the lifting of embargoes on essential medical equipment procurement. He also stressed the need for economic empowerment of NCOs through training in cyber-security, GPS operations, and basic IT.
Yahaya further urged Army leadership to institutionalize mentorship programs and check unethical officer-soldier relationships, which he said erode morale and undermine discipline.
“Welfare is not just about feeding or salaries — it’s about dignity, fairness, and institutional justice. Promotions must be earned, not politicized. No military can be stronger than the morale of its soldiers,” he concluded.
Yahaya’s lecture was delivered in the presence of the current Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and former Army chiefs Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) and Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd). Oluyede, in his earlier remarks, reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to transformation anchored on the “Soldier First” philosophy — a leadership culture centered on selfless command, responsive administration, and operational effectiveness.
“We must take deliberate steps to ensure our soldiers have the right leadership, tools, and motivation to carry out their duties. Commanders must be servant-leaders — accessible, empathetic, and mission-driven,” Oluyede said.
The 2025 NADCEL event highlighted ongoing efforts to shape a more professional, soldier-centric Army capable of responding to Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.
By PRNigeria
