Abuja: The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has called on personnel of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to maintain heightened vigilance and security consciousness to effectively mitigate safety risks. This directive was outlined in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, during a Town Hall meeting held at the ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Musa emphasized the critical role that civilian personnel play in the nation’s security framework. He urged staff members to promptly report any suspicious activities by embracing the mantra, ‘See something, say something,’ and to remain aware of their surroundings during personal movements. The meeting, which marked Musa’s initial engagement with the staff, aimed to foster direct communication between leadership and employees, identify operational gaps, and address pressing workforce concerns.
Musa expressed appreciation for the dedication of the ministry’s personnel and reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing the welfare and working conditions of civil servants. He described civil servants as the “engine room of government” and underscored the importance of strengthening civil-military cooperation, advocating for unity, teamwork, and mutual respect between civilian employees and the Armed Forces. Additionally, Musa announced plans to implement structured engagement programs to cultivate a cooperative working relationship across the ministry’s civilian and military sectors.
In her address, Mrs. Bosede Olaniyi, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, praised the minister for organizing the session, stating that the initiative promoted open communication, discipline, and collective responsibility in fulfilling the ministry’s mandate to protect national sovereignty. Mr. Dahiru Goronyo, President of the Joint Executive Council of the Ministry of Defence Union, presented staff concerns, highlighting issues such as delays in third-party remittance deductions, transportation challenges, training opportunities, promotion matters, and entitlement arrears.
The Town Hall meeting was attended by Directors, Heads of Departments and Units, staff across all levels, and representatives from the media.