The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged chief clerks across the Nigerian Army to embrace digital reforms, professionalism and administrative excellence to strengthen command decision-making and improve operational efficiency.
Shaibu gave the charge while declaring open the Second Biannual Nigerian Army Chief Clerks’ Convention 2026 in Jos, Plateau State.
The Army Chief, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, Major General Maxwell Dangana, described the convention as a strategic platform for strengthening the administrative capacity of the Nigerian Army.
With the theme, “Enhancing Clerical Effectiveness in Support of the Decision-Making Process in a Joint Security Environment,” the convention seeks to improve administrative efficiency, inter-agency cooperation and institutional effectiveness in support of military operations.
Shaibu noted that chief clerks play critical roles in the Army’s command structure through accurate record-keeping, timely information flow and effective administrative support across formations and units.
He stressed that administrative precision, personnel accountability and effective information management were as important to mission success as firepower and manoeuvre, urging the clerical cadre to see themselves as operational enablers rather than mere office administrators.
The COAS reaffirmed his strategic intent to reposition the Nigerian Army as an agile, adaptive and technologically empowered force, anchored on five pillars: professionalism and discipline, administrative efficiency, training and operational readiness, technological integration, and personnel welfare.
He disclosed that the Army was implementing far-reaching administrative reforms, including the digitisation of service records, automation of pay and allowances, and integration of personnel management systems across formations.
According to him, the initiatives are designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and efficiency while ensuring that commanders have access to accurate personnel information for effective planning and decision-making.
The Army Chief also emphasised the need for continuous capacity development within the clerical cadre, particularly through advanced training in leadership, information management and digital administration.
He further reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to personnel welfare, including improved accommodation, healthcare services and timely administration of entitlements.
Shaibu urged participants to take full advantage of the convention to exchange professional experiences, identify administrative challenges and develop practical recommendations that would enhance efficiency and coordination across the Nigerian Army.
He also commended the GOC, 3 Division, the Department of Personnel Management and the Local Organising Committee for their dedication and meticulous planning towards the successful hosting of the event.
The convention is expected to provide an avenue for professional engagement and knowledge sharing, with recommendations aimed at strengthening clerical effectiveness, administrative efficiency and informed command decision-making in support of the Nigerian Army’s operational responsibilities.