The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has welcomed the Nigerian Army’s planned recruitment of about 1,000 indigenous youths from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, but warned that the exercise must be backed by stringent security screening to prevent terrorists from infiltrating the military.
The group said the recruitment, announced by the Theatre Commander during a visit by Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, could provide a major boost to counter-insurgency operations in Southern Borno and neighbouring areas if properly implemented.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak, and Borno State Coordinator, Daniel Halilu, on Thursday, NCYP said the initiative was consistent with its longstanding advocacy for the recruitment, training and deployment of qualified local youths to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
According to the organisation, youths who are indigenous to communities affected by insurgency possess valuable knowledge of the local terrain, communities and movement patterns, making them potentially useful assets in intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism operations.
NCYP cited the experience of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), which emerged in 2012 at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, as evidence of the strategic value of community participation in the fight against terrorism.
The group noted that CJTF members worked alongside security forces and contributed to efforts that pushed Boko Haram out of Maiduguri and several other communities.
“Indigenous youths understand their communities, terrain and environment and can provide valuable intelligence when properly trained and integrated into the security architecture,” NCYP said.
It argued that the Gwoza recruitment could therefore become an important component of efforts to consolidate security gains and protect communities across Southern Borno, provided that recruitment was conducted transparently and professionally.
The group also commended Senator Ndume for his sustained advocacy on security issues affecting his constituents and Borno State, particularly his calls for the deployment of additional troops to vulnerable communities.
NCYP further praised Ndume’s advocacy for improved military welfare and predictable, front-loaded funding for security operations, saying the effectiveness of troops on the frontline depended substantially on adequate resources and welfare.
The organisation also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving recent salary increases for Armed Forces personnel, describing improved welfare, adequate funding and modern equipment as critical to troop morale and operational effectiveness.
However, NCYP said the proposed Gwoza recruitment must not compromise national security.
It specifically called on the Nigerian Army to subject every applicant to exceptionally rigorous background checks and security vetting, warning that Boko Haram, ISWAP and other criminal elements could attempt to exploit the recruitment exercise to gain access to military structures.
“Every applicant must undergo comprehensive security vetting to ensure that Boko Haram, ISWAP or other criminal elements do not infiltrate the military through this initiative,” the group said.
It warned that any lapse in the screening process could create a fresh security challenge and undermine the very objective of the recruitment.
NCYP commended the Chief of Army Staff, the Theatre Command and other officers and personnel of the Armed Forces for their sacrifices in defending the country.
The group said it remained committed to supporting practical, community-based initiatives capable of strengthening grassroots security and improving the capacity of security agencies to respond to threats in vulnerable communities.
ASCSN Hails Enitan’s Appointment as HoS, Says Career Officer ‘Fit for the Task’
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has described the appointment of Dr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) as a reward for excellence, integrity and years of meritorious service in the Federal Civil Service.
The association, in a statement issued on Thursday by its National President, Comrade Mohammed Shehu, congratulated Enitan on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as a tested career officer with the experience and institutional knowledge required to lead the nation’s bureaucracy.
Shehu said the appointment was consistent with the Public Service Rules and the principle of career progression within the Federal Civil Service.
“Dr. Enitan’s journey is one of steady growth, discipline and impact. From private practice to the public service, and rising to the peak as a Permanent Secretary, he has served with distinction across several strategic ministries,” the ASCSN president said.
According to him, Enitan’s experience across the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Office of the Vice President and, most recently, the Federal Ministry of Education, has equipped him with a broad understanding of government operations.
Shehu noted that the new HoCSF’s exposure to security, environmental, humanitarian and education portfolios would give him a unique advantage in driving reforms and improving service delivery across the federal bureaucracy.
“Having superintended critical portfolios covering security, environment, humanitarian affairs and education, Dr. Enitan brings to the office of Head of Service broad institutional memory and a sound technical grasp of policy formulation and implementation,” he said.
The ASCSN president further commended Enitan for what he described as his strong work ethic, commitment to due process, professionalism and dedication to staff welfare and capacity development.
He expressed confidence that the new Head of Service would consolidate ongoing reforms, deepen digital transformation, strengthen merit and discipline, and improve efficiency across the Federal Civil Service.
“We are confident that with his wealth of experience, Dr. Enitan will consolidate ongoing reforms, deepen digital transformation, entrench merit and discipline, and improve service delivery across the Federal Civil Service. He is a perfect fit for this assignment at this critical time,” Shehu said.
The union pledged its cooperation and support to the new Head of Service, while urging him to make staff welfare, industrial harmony, training and retraining, and the protection of the dignity of the civil service key priorities of his administration.
ASCSN also commended President Tinubu for choosing what it described as a tested career officer with proven capacity to steer the federal bureaucracy in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The appointment places Enitan at the helm of Nigeria’s federal civil service at a time when the bureaucracy is undergoing reforms aimed at improving efficiency, digitalising government processes and strengthening institutional capacity.
