By Abdulkareem Haruna
Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has signaled a clear shift in focus toward troop welfare and accountability, pledging to build on a “Soldier-First” doctrine following his inaugural operational assessment visit to the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in Maiduguri.
The COAS, a former Theatre Commander of the same operation, spoke to frontline journalists shortly after an extensive, closed-door briefing with combatant commanders, led by the current Theatre Commander, Major General AE Abubakar.
Gen. Shaibu, whose appointment has been widely seen as a mandate to refresh the counter-insurgency campaign, made it clear that the welfare and morale of personnel would be his immediate priority.
Morale is the Backbone of the Fight
Acknowledging the cordial relationship with the press, the COAS was direct about the central importance of the soldier.
“My coming here is, first and foremost, to appreciate the troops on what they have been doing and the extent they are going to secure the entire areas of operations,” General Shaibu stated.
He stressed that his leadership would immediately intensify efforts to uphold and expand the welfare strategy inherited from his predecessor.
“To motivate the troops, we try to uphold the ‘Soldier-First’ concept of my predecessor and I’ll do everything to improve on that concept.
The new Army Chief emphasized that the timely provision of entitlements is non-negotiable for success on the battlefield.
“As soldiers get what is due to them on time… going forward, we will see how we can extend that to their family at home while they serve their fatherland,” he promised.
Justice and Fairness in Administration
General Shaibu underlined that motivation is not only about pay but about trust in the command structure, linking performance directly to fair administration.
“We will ensure that the right people are placed in the right places; we will appoint the right type of commanders and staff officers are appointed and posted to ensure that we do what is best for the soldiers by holding fairness and justice within the system,” the COAS asserted.
He framed this administrative integrity as a fundamental component of combat readiness.
“Every person will get their dues. Knowing fully well that the morale concept of fighting power is key to achieving the desired expectations,” he added, suggesting that internal equity is as critical as external logistics.
Welfare Packages and Timely Payment
When pressed further on welfare, the COAS pointed to the approval of financial packages as a tangible sign of the command’s commitment.
“We will do our best to ensure we drive all these policies that are key to improving soldiers’ welfare. We will make sure we do that on time. We will continue to pay their allowances on time,” General Shaibu affirmed, citing recent approvals.
“You are aware that the ration cost allowances have been approved for the soldiers. With all these packages for them, they will know that they are being taken care of.”
The Humanitarian Times 