Chief of army staff Lt General Tukur Buratai asks all his officers to declare their assets

CHIEF of army staff Lt General Tukur Buratai has directed all commissioned officers of the Nigerian Army to declare their assets immediately as part of an ongoing campaign to reintroduce professionalism and probity into the military.

 

Originally formed by the British as an iconic service to provide exemplary best service, the Nigerian Army has over recent decades become immersed in corruption. Decades of military rule have eroded the lofty values upon which the army was founded and recently, the service has become immersed in political corruption.

 

Earlier this week, anti-graft agencies announced plans to question several military figures in connection with their role in the Dasukigate arms scandal. Several high ranking officers are believed to have benefitted from the $2.1bn scam under which money budgeted to fight Boko Haram terrorists was diverted into private pockets.

 

Nigerian Army senior commanders have said they will support such a probe and will institute disciplinary action against anyone found to have acted with impropriety. As part of this sanitation exercise, Lt General Buratai has directed all officers of the Nigerian Army who have not declared their assets to do so immediately.

 

Col Sani Usman, the acting director, of army public relations, said: “This directive is in order, considering the fact that all military officers are having presidential commission and are public servants, as well as subject to both civil and military laws. In addition, given the current drive of the country for probity and accountability, the Nigerian Army should not only key in but should be one of the key drivers for such laudable project.”

 

“It is to be noted that the chief of army staff has done so, soon on his appointment as commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force in May 2015 and also on his appointment as chief of army staff in July 2015. Copies of both are with the Code of Conduct Bureau.”

 

Apparently, Lt General Buratai gave the directive during a conference with principal staff officers and directors serving at army headquarters. Since assuming office in July, Lt General Buratai has instituted a number of reforms to reintroduce professionalism into the Nigerian Army and regularly spends religious festivals with his troops on the frontline.