The Guild Of Online Media Editors And Publishers (GOMEP) Nigeria has charged the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritise the welfare of the Nigeria Armed Forces with absolute transparency and accountability, so as to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the personnel and secure the country from the challenges of insecurity.
This comes as Nigeria marks this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, a day set aside to honor the nation’s fallen heroes and veterans who have sacrificed for the peace and security of the country.
According to GOMEP, the call was timely, considering the numerous challenges facing the Nigerian armed forces, including inadequate funding, poor equipment, and lack of transparency and accountability in the management of resources of the agencies within the armed forces.
The group stated that improved personnel welfare is very crucial, given the sacrifices made by the personnel in defending the nation.
In a media briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital, to appraise security in Nigeria, especially as the country marks her Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the media body unequivocally condemned the challenges faced by the security personnel in the country, despite yearly huge resources allocated to each of the agencies, and opined that lack of welfarism and mismanagement of the resources account for 80 percent of non sustainability of the gains recorded by the Nigeria armed forces.
They also frowned at the alarming rate of insecurity in the country, describing it as alien.
The National Secretary of GOMEP, Comrd. Akpovoke Otiti, argued that there was no better time to give a facelift to the Nigeria armed forces than now, insisting that every Armed Forces Remembrance Day throws an opportunity for the nation to reflect on the sacrifices made by the personnel of the Nigeria armed forces, urging the Nigeria government to recommit to supporting their welfare, with much emphasis on transparency and accountability of the resources allocated to them.
“Today marks another year to acknowledge and extol the contributions of the members of the Nigeria Armed Forces, especially those that have paid the ultimate price for peace and security of our dear country.
“We gathered here as a media body whose primary objective, among others is to hold the government accountability by appraising their efforts at all fronts, with security taking the centre stage today, especially as our country marks another year of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
“Judging from what is on ground regarding the efforts of the Nigeria Government to boost the morale of the security personnel, one can say that more work needs to be done.
“The Nigeria Armed Forces are reckoned with globally because of their enthusiasm and commitment, even in the face of numerous challenges, ranging from poor welfare, to non provision of sophisticated equipment to tackle the surging insecurity in the land.
“Although some gains have been recorded, the Nigeria government must ensure that the welfare of these personnel, who against all odds, risk it all for peace and security of this country, are top priority, especially as President BolaTinubu has pledged to prioritise the welfare of our gallant security personnel.
“We cannot be talking about economic growth and foreign investment if the country is insecure.
“We cannot even be confident for the next general elections in an atmosphere of heightened insecurity.
“We demand for thorough transparency and accountability in the management of the resources of the security agencies, which on several occasions have been riddled with corruption over the years.
“As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launches the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund, GOMEP is using this occasion to call for transparency and accountability in the management of the resources, such that the funds allocated for any security purpose are efficiently and effectively utilised to strengthen security in the country.
“Transparency and accountability should be the hallmark of any progressive and forward-thinking government for the promotion of good governance, and reduction of corruption, because the gains translate into national development”, Akpovoke concluded.