Commission unveils roadmap to enhance civil military relationship
NAN-H-68
Relationship
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) The National Human Rights Commission has unveiled a roadmap that will address the challenges and gaps in Civil Military Relationships (CMR).
Prof. Ben Angwe, NHRC Executive Secretary, made this known at the presentation of the Roadmap for fostering civil military relations in Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
The commission organised the programmed in collaboration with the Centre for Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria (CLEEN) and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution.
Angwe said this was the first of such efforts in enhancing CMR.
“The roadmap addresses certain challenges and gaps in civil military relationship and lays a good foundation for a sustained synergy and understanding between the military and the civil population.
“In the past, the CMR in Nigeria has been quite appalling, however, there has been significant departure from the old norm, and this road map intends to develop and build upon the robust civil military relations in the country” he said.
He said that efforts are being made by the Nigerian Army to observe and respect human rights in its operations and interaction with the civil populace.
He said that this road map is a relationship between the civil societies on one part and the military and other paramilitary out fits on the other.
Also, Mr Benson Olugbuo, CLEEN Executive Director, said the major aim behind the project was to bridge the gap in relationship between civilians and security agencies.
He said the project could not come at any other time than now when the developments in the polity today continue to strain the relationship between Nigerians and the security agencies.
The Chief of Army staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, represented by Maj.-Gen. Richard Duru, Director Civil Military Relations, said that the commission had in recent time’s strengthened civil military relations.
Bruatai said this was done by fostering sustained dialogue and improves accountability, security and human rights throughout Nigeria.
He said it would not be out of place to say that the Nigerian Army owes its new found positive and favourable image to the positive reviews and recommendations received from the commission. (NAN)
NEO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha