Defence Minister Tasks Ministry Staff on Security Consciousness

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has urged personnel of the Ministry of Defence to remain vigilant and security conscious to help mitigate security and safety risks.

Musa gave the charge on Monday at a town hall meeting with staff of the ministry at Ship House, Abuja, where he emphasised the critical role of civilian personnel in Nigeria’s national security architecture.

The minister urged staff to promptly report suspicious activities and maintain situational awareness, adopting the mantra, “See something, say something.”

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Leah Katung-Babatunde, Musa said the engagement was designed to strengthen communication between the ministry’s leadership and its workforce, identify operational gaps and address pressing concerns affecting personnel.

He expressed appreciation for the dedication of staff, while reiterating President Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of civil servants, whom he described as the engine room of government.

The minister also called for stronger civil-military cooperation within the Ministry of Defence, stressing the need for unity, teamwork and mutual respect between civilian employees and members of the Armed Forces.

He announced plans to introduce structured engagement programmes aimed at fostering stronger and mutually beneficial working relationships between the civilian and military cadres of the ministry.

The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Bosede Olaniyi, commended Musa for convening the town hall, describing the initiative as a step towards strengthening open communication, discipline and collective responsibility in the ministry.

Olaniyi noted that effective collaboration among personnel remained essential to the ministry’s mandate of safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Presenting concerns on behalf of workers, the President of the Joint Executive Council of the Ministry of Defence Union, Dahiru Goronyo, highlighted issues including delays in third-party remittances, transportation difficulties, limited training opportunities, promotion matters and outstanding entitlements.

The minister and his management team responded to the concerns and assured the workers that efforts would be made to address the issues promptly.

In his remarks, the Director of Human Resources, Mr Idris Gaya, mni, thanked the minister for his accessible leadership and strategic direction, pledging the renewed loyalty and commitment of the workforce to the administration’s objectives.

The town hall was attended by directors, heads of departments and units, staff across various cadres and representatives of the media.