Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, has urged personnel of the Ministry of Defence to remain vigilant, security-conscious and proactive in identifying and addressing potential safety risks.
Musa made the call on Monday during a Town Hall meeting with staff at the ministry’s headquarters, where he stressed the important role civilian personnel play in Nigeria’s national security architecture.
He encouraged staff to promptly report suspicious activities and remain aware of their surroundings, adopting the message, “See something, say something.”
According to a statement by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, the maiden Town Hall meeting was organised to create direct communication between the ministry’s leadership and its workforce, identify operational gaps and address pressing concerns affecting staff.
Musa also reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of civil servants, describing them as the engine room of government.
The minister stressed the importance of stronger cooperation between civilian employees and members of the Armed Forces, calling for unity, teamwork and mutual respect across the ministry.
He announced plans to introduce structured engagement programmes aimed at building stronger working relationships between the ministry’s civilian and military personnel.
In her remarks, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Bosede Olaniyi, commended Musa for organising the engagement.
She said the initiative would strengthen open communication, discipline and collective responsibility as the ministry carries out its responsibility of protecting Nigeria’s national sovereignty.
Presenting the concerns of workers, President of the Joint Executive Council of the Ministry of Defence Union, Dahiru Goronyo, highlighted several issues affecting staff welfare.
Among the concerns were delays in third-party remittance deductions, transportation difficulties, access to training opportunities, promotion-related matters and outstanding entitlement payments.
Musa and members of his management team responded to the concerns and assured the workers that steps would be taken to resolve the issues promptly.
At the end of the meeting, the Director of Human Resources, Idris Gaya, thanked the minister for what he described as accessible leadership and clear strategic direction.
He pledged the workforce’s renewed loyalty and commitment to supporting the administration’s objectives.
The Town Hall meeting was attended by directors, heads of departments and units, staff from different cadres and media representatives.
Source: Ministry of Defence
