Your welfare is my top priority, army chief assures soldiers

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has vowed to adopt the “soldiers first” principle in his command of the Nigerian Army in an effort to upscale troops’ standard of living and shore up their morale.

The COAS also said the army under his leadership has concluded arrangements to increase the Ration Cash Allowance (RCA) for soldiers to enhance their feeding wherever they are deployed.

Gen. Oluyede made this known while addressing troops of the 26 Brigade in Dutse during his working tour to the formation on Tuesday.

Gen. Oluyede, while assuring that the general welfare and well-being of soldiers remain his top priority, urged them to take advantage of the several welfare schemes, such as the Affordable Housing Ownership Options for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) and other financial empowerment schemes that have been established to bring succour to soldiers and their families.

He said that over 400 soldiers have so far benefitted from the AHOOAS Scheme, among whom were soldiers wounded in action in various operations.

He charged the troops to train vigorously to remain physically and medically fit and professional.

The COAS commended the troops for keeping their area of responsibility secure and admonished them to be law-abiding and avoid any unlawful indulgence, adding that he would not hesitate to bring defaulters to book.

The COAS later inspected the newly completed Brigade Headquarters and other ongoing projects and also commissioned the Brigade’s new Obstacle Course.

Earlier, in his address, the Commander of the 26 Brigade, Brigadier General Joseph Mackintosh, gave the COAS a brief on the security situation of the Brigade’s area of responsibility and highlighted the challenges confronting the troops.

He assured the COAS that troops of the Brigade would remain resilient in guaranteeing the safety and security of their area of responsibility.