The Nigerian Army recently held a training for chief clerks targeted at enhancing professionalism and responsiveness, as well as strengthening information security for optimal performance, writes Chiemelie Ezeobi
To strengthen information security and prevent leakage of official documents, the Nigerian Army recently held a four-day training for its chief clerks aimed at enhancing professionalism and responsiveness for optimal performance.
The training which held at the headquarters, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps (NAOC), Yaba, Lagos, was targeted at NA Chief Clerks, who are non-commissioned officers (NCOs) attached to administrative departments and units where they perform clerical duties.
The NA 2021 Chief Clerks Convention attracted senior officers and over 400 Chief Clerks drawn from units, formations, Corps Headquarters and training institutions across the Nigerian Army.
Developing Capacity
Declaring the convention open, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya said it was designed to remind the participants on the need to uphold the Official Secrets Act in the course of their duty.
The COAS who was represented by the Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL), Major General Martins Enendu, reminded the participants that they are the custodians of documents in the army and must guide against leakage of information that could either embarrass the service or jeopardise its operations.
He said: “This training is designed to bring us all on the same page towards ensuring such leakages are checkmated. The issue of disclosures from theatre of operations may not in all cases be limited to structured manner of handling information. Some of these leakages are from men in the field and sometimes, even from people who are not soldiers. We are here for the structured manner of handling document security and I think we would achieve the objectives.”
According to Yahaya, the training would enable the soldiers develop needed capacity and enhance their performance in the discharge of their duties as mustered and trained confidential secretaries, personal assistants and Chief Clerks of the various formations and units they serve in.
He warned against falsification of documents/signatures, late/non-rendition of returns, unauthorised publications and dissemination/disclosure of classified information to the press or other unreliable audiences, describing such as unpatriotic acts that could have dire consequences on the image of the army.
He said: “As trained clerks, you must uphold the Official Secret Act which provides the guidelines and regulates your professional conduct. In this regard I wish to use this opportunity to reiterate that as chief clerks, you must discharge your duties professionally and desist from acts which contravene the Official Secret Act which you all swore to uphold.
“It is also expected that your actions will portray you as role models to your subordinate clerks in the branches, wings, cells or orderly rooms of your various formations, units or establishments. You must therefore strive to lead by example
and imbibe all the core values of the NA to ensure professionalism and honesty in the discharge of your duties.
“Additionally, you must consider your service as a sacrifice for the betterment of the system especially on issues bothering on all clerical matters. You must therefore take this convention seriously and maximise the benefit that comes with it so as to ensure your effectiveness as a chief clerk.
“Similarly, you must endeavor to seize every opportunity, to develop yourselves and acquire requisite skills so as to be prepared to surmount challenges which are associated with the modernisation and technological advancement of our societies especially as it affects the discharge of your duties as Chief Clerks.
“You must therefore keep abreast and key into the ongoing process of using modern smart technology and strive to acquire all the clerical skills, it provides.
“To this end you must be computer literate and proficient in the use of internet facilities and be capable of performing cloud computing and other related clerical aspects of these emerging technologies. It is only through such commitment, focus and dedication, that you can cope with the ongoing transformation in the NA which I desire to achieve in the attainment of my vision.
“It is therefore important that as chief clerks, you must serve the NA with utmost honestly, sincerity and above all, with a God fearing mindset. You must therefore ensure uprightness, guided by good morals and values so as to remain relevant in the effective functioning of your respective corps, formations or units. Accordingly, imbibing these attributes will no doubt assist in the actualisation of the purpose of this convention.”
Optimal Functioning
In his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu expressed optimism that the trainees would be better informed and equipped at the end of the convention.
He said: “Chief Clerks are expected to be robust, endowed with quick thinking, analytical and armed with problems solving skills and foresight. Only in this way, can chief clerks contribute to the optimal functioning of formation and units in the NA.”
He urged the participants to make optimal use of the opportunity by learning the rudiments of contemporary clerical work, adding that the knowledge acquired would enable them function in various capacities.
Lectures
In the first Lecture titled “Capacity Development of Clerical Staff: Challenges and ways forward” delivered by Colonel Onyekachi Eneowo, he enlightened the participants on the roles of NA Clerical Staff. He pointed out the challenges to capacity development, especially in the face of current security challenges confronting the nation.
Also, Brigadier General Chijioke Onwule in a lecture titled, “Exploring Information Communication Technology for Optimal Performance of the NA Chief Clerks” drew the attention of the participants to global best practices that are in tune with military conventions.
