Military Strategic Leadership Is The Glue holding Armed Forces Together - General Lagbaja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has stated that Military Strategic Leadership is the glue that holds the Armed Forces together as a subsystem within the national polity

A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said the Army Chief stated this when he delivered a lecture titled, "Military Strategic Leadership: My Perspective", to the participants of Air War Course 10/2024, at the Air Force War College Nigeria (AFWCN), Makurdi, Benue State.

General Lagbaja charged the participants to build strategic leadership capacity, develop their subordinates by exposing them to adequate training, delegating responsibilities and tasks, inorder to benefit the system. 

 

He stressed that this is achieved by developing the vision or philosophy to guide the personnel, ensure that they operate within the boundaries set by the philosophy in the performance of assigned tasks, in line with national interest and security.

The COAS maintained that 'the need for exposure to training, including Civil Military Relations (CMR) cannot be over-emphasised, as the military strategic leadership relates with all segments of society, particularly the political class'.

"will enhance sound administration of personnel and operational effectiveness of troops' in tackling contemporary and emerging security challenges"

The COAS also told the participants, that as strategic leaders in the making, they must have the moral courage to delegate responsibilities and task their subordinates to enable them develop requisite competences, as they carry out their daily routine duties, describing it as 'on the job training' for the personnel.

He used the opportunity to enjoin the participants to ensure positive contribution to the implementation of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023. 

General Lagbaja disclosed that the President, Commander-in- Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a nod to the Defence industries Corporation (DICON) Act 2023, with provisions for manufacturing of defence equipment in the country, expressed appreciation to Mr President for the initiative and political will.

This he stressed, is important for the nation to minimise its over-reliance on foreign procurement of necessary materiel and equipment. The course had participants from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, civilians and some foreign participants.