- A coalition of civil society organizations under the Nigeria Integrity Watch has lauded Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for welfare reforms prioritizing soldiers.
- Key interventions praised include the new ₦100,000 baseline monthly salary adjustment and dedicated post-retirement housing schemes.
- The coalition linked improved troop motivation directly to recent successes, including the rescue of abducted Oyo pupils and dismantling of terror networks in the North-East.
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations operating under the umbrella of Nigeria Integrity Watch has strongly commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for driving transformative reforms targeted at improving the welfare of soldiers.
Eko Hot Blog reports that according to the group, these welfare-first initiatives have substantially elevated troop morale, resulting in enhanced combat performance and major operational victories against terrorism and internal security threats across the country.
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In a press statement signed by its National Convener, John Nangi, on Tuesday in Abuja, the coalition observed that the Army’s “Soldier-First” doctrine under Lt. Gen. Shaibu’s leadership has systematically addressed long-running welfare challenges, noticeably upgrading combat readiness in major operational zones.
The statement highlighted the newly implemented ₦100,000 baseline monthly salary adjustment for active personnel alongside the ambitious expansion of post-retirement housing developments as core pillars of the reform.
The group drew attention to the “Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers” initiative as a critical buffer for retired personnel.
Examples of this footprint include the commissioning of an 80-unit housing estate at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment in Jos, Plateau State, where five per cent of the homes were gifted to soldiers wounded in action, and a 60-unit residential estate coupled with a shopping complex at Akobo Cantonment in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The statement added that similar housing projects are actively progressing at Ribadu Cantonment in Kaduna and other military bases nationwide.
The coalition further tied the military’s latest tactical victories to the COAS’s “PROSE” command philosophy, which centers on Professionalism, Readiness, Operational Efficiency, Soldier Welfare, and Ethical Civil-Military Relations.
This framework, the group noted, has refined discipline, streamlined tactical coordination, and bridged the gap between military units and host communities, which has dramatically improved local intelligence gathering.
These operational advancements were visible in the North-East, where troops recently dismantled a major terrorist logistics supply network and exposed the complicity of foreign nationals supporting insurgent networks.
Additionally, the group cited the successful tactical rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as an outstanding example of professionalism and rapid response capability.
Concluding the address, the coalition urged the public to actively support the Armed Forces, stressing that local intelligence sharing remains a vital component of preserving Nigeria’s territorial integrity and winning the war against terror.
