By Our Reporter
The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has urged personnel of the Ministry of Defence to remain vigilant and security-conscious in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Musa gave the charge on Monday at a Town Hall meeting with staff of the ministry at Ship House, Abuja.
This is contained in a statement by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Defence, on Monday in Abuja.
He said civilian personnel had an important role to play in Nigeria’s national security architecture and urged them to promptly report suspicious activities.
The minister emphasised the need for staff to maintain situational awareness and adopt the principle of “See something, say something” to help mitigate security risks.
Musa also stressed the need for stronger cooperation between the ministry’s civilian workforce and the Armed Forces to enhance the effective delivery of its mandate.
He said the ministry would institute structured engagements to promote communication, teamwork and mutual understanding between its civilian and military personnel.
The minister said the Town Hall meeting was designed to foster direct communication with staff, identify operational gaps and address issues affecting the workforce.
He reiterated the commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improving the welfare and working conditions of civil servants.
Musa described civil servants as the “engine room of government”, noting that their dedication remained critical to effective governance and national development.
The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi, commended the minister for convening the meeting.
Olaniyi said the initiative would promote open communication, discipline and collective responsibility in advancing the ministry’s mandate.
Presenting staff concerns, Mr Dahiru Goronyo, President, Joint Executive Council of the Ministry of Defence Union, highlighted challenges affecting personnel welfare.
He listed delays in third-party remittances, transportation, training opportunities, promotion issues and outstanding entitlements among the concerns.
Musa and members of the ministry’s management team responded to the issues and assured the staff of appropriate measures to address them.
The Director of Human Resources, Mr Idris Gaya, expressed appreciation to the minister for his accessible leadership and strategic direction.
Gaya pledged the workforce’s continued commitment to supporting the ministry’s objectives and the administration’s national security agenda.
The meeting was attended by directors, heads of departments and units, staff across various cadres and representatives of the media.
