Despite Insecurity, Nigeria Military Promotes 289 Senior Officers In Two Months

Despite rising banditry and unbaiting insurgency, the Nigeria Military has gone on a promotion roulette with each of the Army, Navy and Airforce elevating a total of 289 senior officers within two months.

The Navy kick-started the process on November 26 when it announced the elevation of 203 officers.The breakdown showed that 122 lieutenant commanders were elevated to the rank of commander, 38 commanders were promoted to captain, 24 captains to the flag rank of commodore and 19 commodores were promoted to the flag rank of rear admiral.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas  charged the newly promoted officers to rededicate themselves to their responsibilities and remain loyal to the nation and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Similarly, the Nigeria army on December 5 decorated 39 newly promoted Major Generals with their new ranks. The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd), said the officers’  hard work, dedication and loyalty to constituted authority earned them the promotion.

“I urged you to justify the confidence reposed in you by working hard to rid the country of the prevailing security challenges,” he told the officers.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, urged the new generals to do their best in protecting the country within the confines of the constitution and rules of engagement, adding that their promotion was well deserved.

On December 11, The Nigerian Air Force decorated 47 senior officers with the ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodores.

The decorated officers were charged to justify the confidence reposed in them by redoubling their commitment and loyalty to the Service.

In his remarks at the ceremony, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, noted that in the military, promotion is usually a painstaking procedure that involves the selection of the best out of the best for elevation.

Justifying the promotion, the Chief of Air Staff said:  “Promotion no doubt is a management tool that is used to enhance productivity by recognizing hard work, commitment and diligence in every organization including the military. It equally motivates and inspires others to work harder.

“You have all therefore been found worthy of this advancement. As such, bear in mind that you don’t get promoted only for doing your job really well but also for demonstrating potentials to do more especially at higher levels. I, therefore enjoin you to see your promotion as the beginning of another phase of your career in the service and greater responsibilities.

“Thus, I am particularly elated because this ceremony is indicative that the Nigerian Air Force now has more strategic and analytical minds in our pool of manpower resource to bring to bear their knowledge and experience on how to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.”

THE WHISTLER’s investigation revealed that a brigadier general, which is the equivalent of naval or air commodore, earns about N700, 000 per month.