LAGOS/Nigeria: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has called for tighter financial controls and stronger professional standards in the Nigerian Army, warning that waste, inefficiency and financial leakages could undermine operational readiness.
Shaibu spoke on Monday at the 15th Biennial Training Conference of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps, which opened at the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration Auditorium, Nigerian Army Cantonment, Apapa, Lagos.
The conference, holding from August 9 to 14, is themed “Leveraging Digital Financial Technology and Professionalism for Enhanced Troops Morale Needed for Mission Success.”
Represented at the opening by the Corps Commander Ordnance, Maj.-Gen. Garba Ibrahim, the Army Chief said the increasingly complex and technology-driven nature of military operations made continuous learning, innovation, discipline and institutional excellence essential to professionalism.
He urged participants to approach the conference with an open mind and ensure that knowledge gained was translated into practical improvements within the Army.
Shaibu said financial management had become an important component of military effectiveness because the systems supporting troops and operations could directly influence mission outcomes.
He identified timely budgeting, transparent allocation of resources, prompt payment of personnel entitlements, efficient procurement and prudent financial management as factors that could affect troop morale and operational readiness.
The Army Chief said the need for greater financial discipline was particularly important as the Nigerian Army continued to conduct operations in several theatres while responding to changing asymmetric security threats.
He warned that every naira allocated to defence procurement should deliver measurable value to military operations.
“Waste, inefficiency, weak internal controls and financial leakages are luxuries the Nigerian Army cannot afford,” he said.
Shaibu urged officers in the Finance Corps to strengthen a culture of accountability, innovation, fiscal discipline and resource-conscious service delivery.
He said financial decisions should contribute to operational effectiveness and the welfare of personnel while maintaining the Army’s soldier-first approach.
The COAS also said the conference was taking place against the backdrop of ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s public financial management system, including tax reforms, increased use of digital payment platforms and efforts to strengthen compliance with the Treasury Single Account.
According to him, the reforms were intended to promote transparency, efficiency and accountability in the management of public resources.
He said the Army would continue to align its financial processes with the broader reforms while ensuring that the peculiar requirements of military operations were adequately addressed.
Shaibu challenged financial officers to continuously update their professional knowledge and develop skills in financial analytics, enterprise financial systems, digital auditing, cybersecurity, risk management and data-driven decision-making.
He said financial managers should not limit their responsibilities to regulatory compliance but should also anticipate emerging challenges and develop innovative solutions that support military operations.
The Army Chief disclosed that the service had continued to invest in the digital transformation of its financial systems, including efforts to automate processes, strengthen auditing mechanisms, improve transparency and enhance accountability.
He, however, cautioned that digital transformation required continuous vigilance, citing cybercrime, identity theft, financial fraud and the manipulation of digital information as emerging threats.
Shaibu therefore urged officers responsible for sensitive financial information to maintain high standards of data security, information integrity and professional ethics.
He assured participants that the Army would continue to support initiatives that promote efficiency, accountability and value for money in the management of defence resources.
The COAS tasked the conference to produce practical recommendations capable of strengthening financial governance and improving operational support across formations and units of the Nigerian Army.
He commended the Chief of Accounts and Budgets and the leadership of the Army’s financial and planning structures for sustaining the professional engagement.
Shaibu also acknowledged the contributions of retired commanders, senior officers and veterans, whose experience and mentorship, he said, had helped shape the professional standards of the Finance Corps.
He urged the Nigerian Army Finance Corps to remain a strategic partner in strengthening the service’s operational capability through sound, transparent and responsible financial management.
