Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State Government has expressed concern over lack of interest by youths in the state to enlist into the Nigerian Army to meet the state’s quota in line with the federal character policy.
Mr Steve Oruruo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, said this in a statement made available to Ikengaonline in Enugu.
He said that the Government was deeply concerned over the lack of interest shown by youths of the state in enlisting into the Nigerian Army.
In view of this, a team from the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja on Saturday, November 15, visited the state and interfaced with stakeholders in the three senatorial zones
Oruruo said that the visit followed the opening of the online application portal for Nigerian Army (NA) Recruitment Exercise for the 84 Regular Recruits intake which commenced on October 10, 2022.
According to him, the data obtained from the Federal Character Commission shows a recurring and appealing situation which is already affecting the state’s representation in the Army.
He disclosed that during the recruitment exercise for the 82 and 83 Regular intakes, Enugu State contingents were only 73 and 49 recruits respectively.
This was as opposed to the 150 slots reserved for the state on each occasion based on the quota system.
“The consequence of this is that in time, our dear state would obviously be unevenly represented when other personnel recruited would have progressed in service.
“Uninformed observers could erroneously misinterpret this scenario in future as marginalization and imbalance in the federal character,” he said.
However, during the army team’s meeting with stakeholders, speaker after speaker made complaints ranging from discrimination, unequal treatment, favouritism, lack of adequate publicity and marginalization.
A retired Military Officer, Jerome Okeke, alleged discrimination while he was in service and said he would not encourage any of his children to join the army.
Most speakers were also of the opinion that, there is no enough publicity for the recruitment exercise which makes it difficult for those in the rural areas to enlist.
Addressing Journalists after the exercise, the representative of Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Ola Oyelade, said: “Over the past few years, we have noticed that our brothers and sisters in some states, especially the South-East and South-South have not been meeting up with their quota for enlistment.”
“The department of Administration under the guidance of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Farouk Yahaya said that this anomaly needs to be corrected because the military is run nationally and it is important every part of the country is represented in the army.”
