The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin has called on the Ministry of Defence to consider developing a unified headquarters complex that would house both the ministry and all the armed services in one location, to facilitate synergy as well as comply with global best practice.
Olonisakin made the call when he received the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr Babangida Hussaini, who was on a familiarisation visit to the Defence Headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.
He noted that such an arrangement had been obtained in the past, and that reverting to it will reduce delays in the dispatch of important operational issues to the ministry, whilst enhancing productivity.
The CDS said the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) was looking forward to a seamless working relationship with the ministry, because its support and partnership were important for the services to execute their Constitutional mandate of ensuring peace and stability of the nation.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary, Hussaini, said his visit was based on the need to convey and reaffirm the ministry’s vision and mission, as well as consolidate on the existing cordial relationship it enjoys with the Defence Headquarters.
He said the objective of the visit was also to foster effective coordination in policy formulation, implementation and delivery of the ministry’s mandate, adding that it was also to improve synergy between the military and the civilian organ for effective discharge of the military’s Constitutional mandate.
“On my assumption on duty, I noticed some gaps both horizontally and vertically, and this should not be so. We should work together as a team to ensure that the mandate of the armed forces is actualized. Also, it is to reaffirm our commitment to do our best to ensure that the services perform their constitutionally assigned mandates efficiently and without distractions”.
The Permanent Secretary assured that the ministry would create the right policy environment for the operational success of the armed forces, while pledging to push for a unified headquarters for the ministry and all the defence services, similar to what obtained at the U.S Pentagon.
Besides visiting the DHQ, the permanent Secretary also visited the headquarters of the Army, Navy and Air Force, where he met with the Service Chiefs.
