The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, says Nigerian Army is implementing
new welfare initiatives to boost and improve the morale of troops.

He made this known at the opening of the First Quarter Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Conference 2024 on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) is one such measures, aimed at alleviating the hardship soldiers face in securing personal accommodation during post-service life.

The COAS said he had directed the Post-Service Housing Development Limited (PHDL) to set aside five per cent of the AHOOAS Scheme in each estate for allocation to soldiers with operational related disabilities.

This, according to him, is a way of making the scheme inclusive and sensitive to the plight of soldiers with such challenges.

According to him, the Nigerian army will cover all the housing expenses at 100 per cent for the soldiers.

Lagbaja said the army had reinvigorated its complimentary welfare flights for North-East troops to facilitate travels during leaves and passes.

“Furthermore, premiums paid to beneficiaries of our various insurance schemes to cater for troops’ dependents in any eventuality have been doubled without any corresponding increase in contributions.

“These underscore our unrelenting commitment to prioritising the welfare of soldiers and their families to get the best out of them and appreciate
their service,’’ he said.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu “for his understanding and unwavering support toward enhancing army’s operational efficiency and effectiveness.”

He charged field commanders across various theatres of operations and the gallant troops to remain committed to bringing the nation’s adversaries to their
knees and restoring sanity in troubled areas.

Lagbaja said there was need to continue to strengthen operational capabilities, enhance intelligence gathering, foster inter-agency cooperation and prioritise the welfare of personnel.

“Our commitment to professionalism, discipline and respect for human rights must remain firm and obvious to all.

“As we go into the closed session of this conference, I wish to reiterate the importance of generating sincere and candid opinions.

“I encourage participants to engage in robust discussions and provide insightful opinions and options that will fine-tune the strategies and policies of the Nigerian army to guarantee a more robust and secured Nigeria.

“Your wealth of knowledge and experience will undoubtedly contribute to our collective effort to transform the Nigerian Army to advance our nation’s security agenda.

“I am quite optimistic that the briefs and presentations during the conference will elicit robust discussions and generate strategies to maintain the Nigerian Army’s continued success in operations,’’ he added.

COAS used the occasion to present 13 new Toyota Hilux vehicles to another set of Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMSs).

He also inaugurated the remodelled conference hall at the Army Headquarters Command Mess 1, Asokoro Abuja.

Ogun Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Law, on Tuesday, scaled second reading, newsmen reports.

The amendment, the lawmakers said, had become imperative in order to address the logjam created by the old law.
They further attributed the amendment to the need to add value to the services rendered by career officers of the legislative arm of government.

Opening the debate on the bill during plenary in Abeokuta, Chairman, House Committee on Establishments, Mr Babatunde Tella, stressed the need for addressing certain issues that had held the assembly back.

Part of those issues, according to Tella who is the sponsor of the bill, is one bordering on the emoluments of the Clerk of the House.

He noted that the clause that equated the clerk with the Head of Service in the state needed to be toned down to that of Permanent Secretary.

The legislator said that concerning the deputy clerks and executive secretary of the assembly service commission would now be equated with directorates.

Other lawmakers, who corroborated Tella’s submission, said that the amendment would assist the assembly workers to add value to the service rendered, ensure proper seniority hierarchy and enable staffers to have their emoluments.

Responding, the Speaker, Mr Oludaisi Elemide, said that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the essence of the amendment was to address certain issues that had created delay in the implementation of the old law.
He, thereafter, committed the bill to the Committee of the Whole House for further legislative actions.

Wrexham United goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo has been named in EFL League Two’s Team of the Season.

The 22-year-old goalie has kept 13 clean sheets in the league this season.

The Nigerian has started 34 of Wrexham’s 44 League Two fixtures.

The Arsenal-owned shot-stopper played a starring role in the Red Dragons wrapping up a top-three finish and back-to-back promotions.

Okonkwo will be available this summer as his contract at Arsenal is about to expire.

There is expected to be a massive scramble for his signature following his exploits with Wrexham.