The Nigerian Army on Wednesday mandated its finance personnel to be proactive and proficient in discharging their duties.

The Chief of Accounts and Budget, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Adetokunbo Fayemiwo, gave the charge at the 1st Division Finance Training Week 2024 in Kaduna.

Mr Fayemiwo, represented by Chief of Staff, 1 Division Brig.-Gen. David Nwakonobi, said this would ensure that financial services were rendered to the Nigerian Army personnel as well as units and formations at the right time and place.

The theme of the training week is “Enhancing the capacity and skills of 1 division finance officers and clerks for proactive and efficient delivery of financial services to 1 Division Nigerian Army.”

He stressed that the Nigerian Army finance personnel were to conform with the existing regulations and remain professional in their conduct as military personnel.

He said, “To ensure this, I have made it mandatory for all Nigerian Army Finance personnel to be adequately trained to carry out their duties at all levels.’’

Mr Fayemiwo explained that training was one of the pillars of the Chief of Army Staff command philosophy, which is “to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards a joint environment.”

He added that the division’s finance training week was designed to address the training needs of finance officers and soldiers at the division level.

Mr Fayemiwo said, “It will provide a good platform for updating personnel on contemporary government financial policies, financial best practices and their implications on accounting for Nigerian Army funds.

“This training week will focus on enhancing the capacity of 1 Division Finance personnel to render professional and efficient financial services to the Nigerian Army.”

He further said that the duties and responsibilities of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps were central to the performance and effectiveness of the Nigerian Army both in war and peacetime.

He said, “In pursuit of my training objectives for 2024, I directed all division finance offices to conduct a division finance training week to address the training needs of their personnel.’’

The finance chief enjoined the participants to be actively involved in the training sessions to derive maximum benefit from them.

Mr Fayemiwo appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja’, for approving the training week and providing the resources required for its conduct.

Earlier, the Commander, 1 Division Finance and Accounts, Brig.-Gen. Adamu Kitchener, said the training was an initiative of the Chief of Accounts and Budget Army.

Mr Kitchener said the training was to enhance development, professionalism, skills and knowledge among officers and soldiers in the finance corps.

He stated, “It is also to equip them to tackle financial issues and how to render useful advice to their superiors in their various areas of responsibility. ‘’

(NAN)