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By Kabir Abdulsalam
“Fortune favors the brave.” – Terence
This famous quote dates as far back 161 B.C. That year, Roman African playwright Terence used the phrase in his play Phormio.
I’ve many time seen this qoute used by many writers and authors as an encouragement to push the limits of what is achievable.
In the military, the achievement of any Navy mission is not solely dependent on the strength of the ships or the power of the weapons, but rather on the dedication, discipline, and determination of the men and women who serve. Hence, recognition and motivation of personnel in the service is not only a matter of gratitude, but a strategic imperative for sustained excellence and readiness.
Recently, the Nigerian Navy has once again shown its commitment to recognizing that and promoting excellence within its ranks.
The service granted the prestigious Presidential Concessional Commission to 12 warrant officer lieutenants, marking a significant milestone in their careers.
This achievement is a testament to the Nigerian Navy’s dedication to developing and nurturing its personnel, as well as its unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and excellence in all its operations.
The promotion is a significant move that serves as a motivational measure for non-commissioned officers to aspire to be elevated to the officer cadre.
The mission birth by present Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo and approved by President Muhamamadu Buhari in 2022, as a clear indication of his commitment to rewarding personnel, encouraging hard work, and portraying the service in good light.
This gesture by the CNS is seen as a step towards enhancing the morale of the personnel as part of efforts to reinvigorate aspiration, leadership, and strive for excellence within the rating cadre.
The rank of lieutenant is crucial in the Nigerian Navy, as it is the first rank at which officers are given command responsibilities. The level at which officers are expected to start developing their leadership skills and becoming mentors to their subordinates.
Importantly, the “Presidential Concession Commission” can be traced as a tradition during the colonial era when officers were granted commissions by the British monarch.
The commissioning of officers is a significant event in the life of a naval officer, it marks the beginning of their career as commissioned officers. During the ceremony, the officers take an oath of allegiance to the country and the Armed Forces and are presented with their commissioning scrolls.
The commissioning of these officers to lieutenant rank is a clear indication of the government’s commitment to developing the Nigerian Navy and ensuring that it is staffed with highly trained and skilled officers.
Speaking at the event, the Naval boss maintained that the Navy activated the concessional commission in provision under Harmonized Terms and Condition of Service – Officers 2017 (Revised).
The CNS understands the importance of recognizing and rewarding personnel for their hard work and dedication. Since assuming office, he has implemented various measures aimed at motivating personnel to perform at their best.
These measures however include the provision of improved welfare packages, training and development opportunities, and the implementation of various incentive schemes.
Aside from recognizing exceptional performance by personnel in various areas, like combat readiness, operational efficiency, and intelligence gathering, Gambo has promoted various community development initiatives aimed at enhancing its image and portraying it in good light.
While delivering his speech, CNS Gambo assured that the Nigerian Navy under his watch will stop at nothing to ensure personnel who distinguish themselves are rewarded handsomely.
He said, “Today, I am glad to observe that the Nigerian Navy has placed a high premium on human capacity development, particularly with the introduction of several motivational incentives towards enhancing human resource output for optimal operational efficiency of the Nigerian Navy.”
He said in addition to ongoing in-country regular training for career progression and development, the service has made available slots for comparative training sourced abroad to complement local training.
He said the provisions of the Concessional Commission allow for outstanding personnel of the rank of Master Warrant Officer and above or equivalent who possess exemplary leadership qualities and have distinguished themselves through hard work, dedication, and meritorious service to be commissioned as officers in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Kabir Abdulsalam is a PR Advisor and Media Consultant, can be reach via kbabdulsalam03@gmail.com
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