Service Chiefs : NUJ Says Change of Guards Belated |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) has said the change of guards at the Defence headquarters and the various service arms is belated.

In a statement on Thursday, its  President, Chris Isiguzo,  noted that “after months of intense calls by the National Assembly, Media, Socio-Cultural Organisations, Pressure Groups including the NUJ the change is belated but however welcomed.

“NUJ hopes that the new service chiefs would put in their  best to end the rising cases of insecurity threatening the existence of the country by understanding that their  appointments  are not for merriment, but  for hard work and total commitment to the Fatherland.

“It is our hope, that the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Leo Irabor, will properly coordinate the other Service Chiefs to immediately confront Boko Haram insurgents, banditry and kidnappings appropriately in the best interest of the country.

“The new Service Chiefs must not see their assignments as opportunities to amass wealth for themselves, families or friends, but rather as a challenge  to re-engineer the country’s security architecture that has suffered serious setbacks.

“It will be foolhardy for the Service Chiefs to ignore the welfare of their Officers and Soldiers in the onerous task ahead of them because success can only be achieved  through boosting the morale of troops at various areas of operations.

“NUJ urges the Service Chiefs to stay away from politics if they must succeed where their predecessors did not do well. What Nigerians need now, is  the security of their lives and property to enable them live decent lives.”

The Union appealed to the Federal Government to provide adequate arms and  equipment, to ensure the welfare and well being of the fighting men and women.

It also solicited the continuous support of Nigerians for the Armed Forces.