Adekeye Charges Soldiers On Integrity, Uprightness, As 2 Div. Hosts Over 490 Warrant Officers Ahead Promotion Exercise
•By KAZEEM OYENIYI
IBADAN – THE Chief of Personnel Management, Army Headquarters, Abuja, Major General Adewale Ayokunle Adekeye has charged the Warrant Officers qualified for promotion exercise to Master Warrant Officers on integrity.
While declaring open the promotion board 2025 exercise at 2 Division Sports Complex, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment Ibadan, Major General Adewale Adekeye
called on the Warrant Officers to avoid any form of malpractices and attempt to induce anyone to gain favour during or after the exercise.
He stressed that such act will jeopardize their chances, as well as automatically disqualify them from the exercise.
He said, “Warrant Officers are the senior non-commissioned officers who serve as the vital link between commissioned officers and younger soldiers and because of their crucial role, they must be highly knowledgeable, capable, and seen as true professionals by both officers and soldiers. That way, they can function effectively and live up to the demands of their rank.
“I am in Ibadan for the opening ceremony of the Warrant Officers’ Promotion Board. This board sits every year, and its main purpose is to select from the pool of warrant officers those who will be promoted to the rank of Master Warrant Officers.The group selected through this process will form the corps of Army Warrant Officers in the coming years.
“Most of the candidates you see here today have had practical experience in the theatre of operations, whether in the North-East or the North-West. Their field experience is a major asset. However, the Nigerian Army operates a career management system that is structured like a pyramid, broad at the base and narrow at the top.
“This means that while many officers are qualified, only a select few can make it to the very top. For this year’s exercise, we already have 490 candidates documented across all formations for the board’s activities. However, we expect more to join as the process continues.”Adekeye said while speaking with journalists.
However, earlier in his address to the officers, Adekeye said, “I am confident that all the participants have out in personal effort to prepare adequately for this exercise, I look forward to seeing Warrant Officers display the highest standard of discipline expected of your caliber. You must ensure promptness to all activities and obey instructions given at all times, more importantly you may be competing amongst yourselves for the available promotion vacancies.
“It is important for me to remind you participants that the guidelines contained in the reviewed Harmonised Term and Conditions of Service for Soldiers/Ratings/Airmen (2024) as well as the administrative policies and procedures (2023) for promotion shall be used strictly for this exercise.
“During the exercise, participants shall undergo a compulsory medical examination to ascertain their mental and physical fitness to qualify them for the rigorous activities outlined for the exercise. Others activities the participants will undergo include weapon handling, current affairs and general service knowledge amongst others, participants will also be tested on drill or basic computer knowledge test as may be applicable to general duties and clerical specialty respectively.
“I will like to remind the participants that promotion is not do or die affair, one important aspect of the reviewed Harmonised Terms and Condition of service is that it has provided opportunity for candidates to attend promotion board for up to five attempts. In this spirit, I urge the participants not to engage in any unwholesome practice such as taking any form of drugs to enhance your physical performance because it could endanger your live in the long run.
“Any participant that has any form of medical challenge should inform the medical team during the medical screening or anytime he feels unwell, remember there is no participant seated here that has served the Nigerian for less than 30 years, as you are rounding up your career in the Nigerian Army, your live is more precious to us and most importantly your beloved family, I urge you to have confidence in the system as represented by the board members that justice will be done such that only proven qualified and seen to be qualified will be promoted.
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Chinedu Nnebeife expressed optimism that Chief of Personnel Management and the board members will be diligent and objective with any form of favoritism in recommending only the qualified candidates for promotion.
He also appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede for approving 2 Division Nigerian Army Headquarters to host the promotion exercise.