…AS A RETIRED OFFICER MAKE CASE FOR MILITARY SCHOOL, ZARIA
By Okosun Dennis
All that started well, ended glamourously with pomp and ceremony as the former Corps Commander of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps (NAMC) and 31 other Army Generals were pulled out of the army after a colourful parade on Friday.
The ceremony which was held at the 65 Battalion Parade Ground, Bonny Cantonment, attracted family members, both serving and retired colleagues and well-wishers.
The Reviewing Officer, Major General Ikechukwu Okeke (retd) expressed joy as he thanked the Almighty God for making his career that started about 46 years ago at the Nigerian Army Military School (NMS), Zaria came to a fruitful and momentous end.
All the retired Generals were personnel of the medical corps, were two Major Generals and 30 Brigadier Generals. They had voluntarily retired from the service after putting in 35 years or more of meritorious service to the nation.
In his farewell remarks on behalf of other retiring officers, Maj Gen Okeke (retd) said that the pulling out ceremony was an indication that the Nigerian Army, and in particular, the Nigerian Army Medical Corp (NAMC) still value the age-old customs and traditions of the NA and value team contribution to the service.
“Today’s event is, therefore, our valedictory parade and is a day of mixed feelings of joy, nostalgia, a little sadness, and deep thoughts. We thank God for the privilege to retire from service in good physical and mental health.
Adding that retirement was a normal event that happens, explained that it was the day military personnel is enlisted or commissioned, that the clock starts ticking and ultimately ends when one has completed his years of service, or due to age or health reasons, stressing that it was most honourable to “retire voluntarily rather than compulsory retirement or other ways.
“It is note-worthy that all the Generals being pulled out today retired voluntarily and with unblemished records.”
He observed that with the improved process of voluntary retirement streamlined in consonance with Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service, (HTACOS), it is possible for everyone to plan and anticipate the time of departure.
“This process and the more regular payment of benefits has been making the prospects of retirement less stressful,” Gen Okeke further eluded.
He appealed to the Nigerian Army authority especially the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya to look into some contentious issues that border on Nigerian Military School personnel.
In addition, “I appeal to the Army Headquarters to make the commissioning of medical personnel a regular, annual, predictable, and sustainable event.
He observed that when most of them retired, all the Doctors and Pharmacists of the rank of Brigadier General and above in the NAMC were Ex-Boys. The eventual retirement of this class of highly trained and experienced staff left a big vacuum in the Medical Corps that is still difficult to fill. This underlines the relevance of NMS as a source of much-needed manpower.”
Expressing his satisfaction with the honour done to him and his colleagues, Brigadier General Anthony Femi Omotosho, who bore his mind with our correspondent noted that organising a Pulling Out Parade for him was the best accolade the army authority has done him.
He admonished his junior officer to be dedicated, obedient, and disciplined adding that “no” is not part of the language understood by the army.
Other officers who retired were Major General A Kigbu, Brigadier Generals CB Wanda; KT Archibong; ST Olasupo; A Dada; NAA Hussaini; K Salawu; NA Abdulrahim; TAY Ibrahim; PD Yusuf; FO Pearse; RCE John; SE David; NAE Okeji and AI Onovo.
Others include Brig Gen JC Mbibi; ETO Adebayo; CA Thomas; AN Chujor; EB Ajayi; FIR Ariori; FD Gyang; QA Ahmed; TA Adelanwa; AO Ibeokoye; AJ Enogela; SW Aliu; MA Abdullahi and JUO Bassey.
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