Charges committee to submit report in six weeks
Published By Olukayode Idowu
The Minister of Defence Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has assured Nigerians that more positive impact of a rejuvenated and repositioned new Defence Sector will be felt in the discharge of its constitutional mandate.
General Magashi gave the assurance at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters Abuja during the inauguration of A- 24 – Man Committee to implement the recommendations of the Reform Committee for the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The Committee which has as its Chairman a seasoned and accomplished Major General, Alwali Jauji Kazir is given A 7 – point terms of reference.
According to the Defence Minister the Committee is to examine the recommendations of the Reform Committee’s report and classify them into immediate, Short, medium and long term as appropriate.
He said the onus is on the Implimentation and Advisory Committee to Institute necessary mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations that are within the approval threshold of the Minister of Defence.
It’s terms of reference also include Monitoring progress in the implimentation of recommendations by the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters and Services’ Headquarters, develop strategies to tackle any envisaged bottlenecks as well as perform such other functions as may be assigned.
Earlier in the opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Musa Istifanus challenged members of the Committee to see their assignment as a duty call to render selfless service to the nation.
Istifanus said the membership of the Committee are carefully selected based on their pedigrees and impecable records of services to the nation.
He therefore urged them to bring their rich wealth of experience to bear on their new task.
Responding, the Committee Chairman, Major General Alwali Jauji Kazir (rtd) assured the Minister of Defence of firm commitment to carry out the assigned task.
General Kazir said this is with a view to emplacing envisioned robust, responsible and responsive Armed Forces capable of delivering results in today’s volatile and ambiguous environment.
It will be recalled that the Minister of Defence inaugurated the Reform Committee Chaired by the Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Ndatsu Umaru (rtd) in February this year.
It consequently submitted its recommendations in April 2021 to which the Defence Minister promised to review and put appropriate machineries in place for its implementation.
It is therefore in fulfilment of that promise made by General Magashi that concomitantly gave birth to this 24 – Man newly inaugurated Implementation and Advisory Committee.