Navy Enhances Operational, Administrative Efficiency of Warrant Officers

Chiemelie Ezeobi

To enhance operational and administrative efficiency of its warrant officers, the Nigerian Navy (NN) recently held a two-day convention at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Lagos.

Themed “Optimising Nigerian Navy Operations through Effective Warrant Officers Leadership,” the convention was geared towards dialogue between the navy hierarchy and the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) on issues that would aid them in the discharge of their duties, enforcement of discipline, ethos, core values and standards within the lower cadre.

At the conference, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo, reiterated his commitment towards advancing professionalism and human resource capabilities of the service, just as he urged participants to proffer needed ideas and suggestions that would better human resource capacity of the navy as it concerns the entire body of ratings.

He said the maiden edition of the convention which held in 2016 gave rise to far reaching recommendations that were already being implemented at various levels in the navy, adding that the feedback from the implementation spurred him to sustain the hosting of the convention.

Stressing the importance of the Naval Warrant Officers in the service, he said the successes recorded in tackling maritime security challenges as well as operations in support of sister services in the North-east would not have been possible without an enlightened and professional human resource.

He said: “Over the years, the Nigerian Navy has developed into a potent force capable of effectively carrying out its constitutional and statutory roles.

” The service has imbibed the realities of our national imperatives and has applied the most optimal policies and strategies in the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity.

“The Nigerian Navy has equally tackled the maritime challenges in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) up to the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).

“To this end, the navy has every reason to be proud as our collective efforts have sufficiently reduced illegalities such as crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, piracy, kidnapping, smuggling, militancy and pipeline vandalism in our maritime domain.

“It is equally gratifying that we have continued to give a very good account of ourselves in support of other services in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations, especially in the North-east.

“These successes would not have been possible without an enlightened and professional human resource.

“The Warrant Officers cadre, play a pivotal role to these successes and it is for their sake we are all gathered here today.”

The CNS expressed hopes that the convention would reawaken the tenets of professionalism and excellent work ethics among naval personnel, reminding warrant officers they were expected to be experienced, visible and professionally sound in order to instill discipline within the lower chain of command.

He added, “no doubt, warrant officers are key players in the lower level of the Nigerian Navy command structure and custodians of unit regimentation.

” It is expected that they would willingly and effectively discharge their responsibilities at all times if professionalism and operational efficiency are to be sustained in the service.

“It is my fervent hope that the deliberations would yield meaningful ideas that would lead to implementable recommendations that could contribute to the evolution of the Nigerian Navy into a more operational and efficient service.”

Gambo also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for pledging total support to the Armed Forces in its current campaign to restore the territorial integrity of the nation, adding that the administration has continued to provide resources to enhance their job despite dwindling revenue and increasing challenges facing the country.

“On my part, I shall continue to judiciously apply all allocated resources as evidenced by the ongoing acquisition of an unprecedented number of boats, three aggressive renovation and construction of barracks across the various Nigerian Navy establishments.

“Furthermore, vehicles have been purchased to reduce the burden of public transportation that hitherto tended to diminish personnel productivity and morale. Let me reiterate my commitment to investing in quality training and education as well as the motivation and welfare of personnel at all levels,” he added.

Also speaking, Chairman, Organising Committee, Commodore Chidi Okpala said the purpose of the convention was to serve as a veritable platform for intellectual discourse aimed at
creating an avenue for Warrant Officers in the NN to contribute ideas towards the efficient administration of the service.

He said: “The Warrant Officers remain a critical bridge between the commissioned and non-commissioned ranks respectively. It is in recognition of this critical role they play as vital links in the human resource hierarchy of the NN that informed the organisation of this convention.”

Pix caption: The CNS with dignitaries