The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Faruk Yahaya, has urged disengaged soldiers to fulfill their commitment in defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria as espoused in their oath of allegiance.
He stated this during a valedictory buffet organised in honour of year 2021 disengaged soldiers within 82 Division Area of Responsibility held in Enugu in the evening of Friday 13 May, 2022.
Gen. Faruk who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, expressed the commitment of his administration to enhancing the welfare of discharged personnel within the power of his office.He assure them of availability to Army health facilities and other welfare institutions across the nation to support both serving and ex personnel.
Gen Faruk notified the former soldiers about the ongoing efforts to re-engage the services of qualified disengaged personnel in other to continue to benefit from their wealth of experience garnered over the years. He added that “the Army is still open to your invaluable contributions toward attaining her constitutional mandate and would always welcome your support in that regards”.
GOC 82 Division, Major General Lagbaja, earlier in his speech thanked the discharged soldiers for making the Division proud and putting in their best while they served under the Division.
“We are grateful to the COAS for approving this valedictory buffet.This particular event, which has come to stay in the activities of the Nigerian Army, is the brain-child of the COAS as he is totally committed to the welfare of troops and discharged soldiers as well”.
Army Warrant Officer, Jonas Tambari (retired), on behalf of the discharged soldiers, appreciated God Almighty for giving the discharged soldiers sound health and mind to attend the valedictory buffet. “It is unfortunate we are discharged when the nation is facing security challenges; however, we will continue to give support, advice and guidance when there is need to do so”
The ceremony was concieved out of the COAS desire to accord befitting send off occasion to all personnel that have served the Nigerian Army and Nation meritoriously and are discharging from active service. It had its maiden in 2021 in Abuja with the official send off of retiring major generals and brigadier generals
