CDS OLUYEDE AND THE WELLNESS OF OUR TROOPS

By Bongos Oche

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff on October 24, 2025, the choice came at a critical moment for Nigeria’s security architecture. The appointment placed at the helm of the Armed Forces a senior officer who had already gained valuable experience in commanding troops and confronting the hard realities of Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

Since assuming office, Gen. Oluyede has increasingly demonstrated that strengthening the military is not only about defeating threats but also about deliberately taking care of the men and women who go into the field in the discharge of their duties.

There is a growing understanding in modern military thinking that the strength of an armed force is not measured solely by the weapons it possesses or the number of operations it conducts. The condition of the people who carry those weapons and execute those operations matters just as much.

For Nigeria, where soldiers and other security personnel are regularly deployed to difficult and dangerous environments, the welfare and wellness of troops must remain a national priority. Oluyede’s emphasis on this aspect of military leadership is, therefore, both timely and necessary.

Since taking over as CDS, Oluyede has consistently highlighted the importance of personnel welfare as an integral part of military effectiveness. His understanding of welfare goes well beyond salaries and allowances.

It encompasses proper training, modern equipment, continuous professional development, operational preparedness, family support and genuine economic security. Oluyede knows that a soldier who is assured that the institution values his life, supports his family and prepares him thoroughly for the battlefield is far better positioned to give his best in the service of the country.

The importance of this approach cannot be overstated. Nigerian troops operate under enormous pressure in the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other persistent threats. Many spend long periods away from their families and serve in difficult terrain where the risks are real and sometimes fatal.

In such circumstances, taking care of the soldier is not an act of generosity. It is a strategic investment in national security. Oluyede appears to fully understand this vital connection between human welfare and fighting capacity.

His emphasis on modernising the military structure is itself a welfare issue.

The planned review of the existing joint command arrangement, the move towards more permanent joint theatres and the establishment of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre are all intended to make military operations more coordinated and effective. Better coordination can mean clearer responsibilities, faster decision-making and more efficient deployment of personnel.

In practical terms, a smarter military structure can reduce the unnecessary exposure of troops to avoidable risks.

The CDS’s emphasis on better training and professional development is equally important. His efforts to strengthen defence cooperation, including the focus on training and capacity development in Nigeria-Bangladesh defence relations, reflect a clear understanding that today’s soldier must be prepared for a rapidly changing battlefield.

Warfare is no longer defined solely by rifles, artillery and conventional formations. Cyber operations, drones, artificial intelligence, robotics and space technology are becoming increasingly central. Preparing Nigerian troops for these realities is part of protecting their lives and improving their chances of operational success.

Oluyede’s advocacy for greater local production of military equipment has a direct and practical connection to troop welfare. Soldiers should not find themselves in situations where essential equipment is unavailable because of delays in foreign procurement or sudden supply disruptions.

Building Nigeria’s capacity to produce and maintain defence equipment locally can provide the Armed Forces with more reliable access to what they need. It can also reduce strategic dependence on external suppliers while strengthening the country’s ability to sustain military operations over the long term.

There is also the critical question of the economic well-being of serving personnel and their families. President Tinubu’s approval of substantial salary increases for members of the Armed Forces represents an important recognition of the sacrifices made by those who protect the nation.

The increases, covering personnel across different ranks, demonstrate that troop welfare must include decent and competitive remuneration. Under Oluyede’s leadership, such measures can contribute significantly to improved morale and strengthen the sense of institutional commitment among officers and soldiers.

But military service does not end simply because an officer or soldier retires. The responsibility of the nation should not end there either. Oluyede’s recent engagement with the leadership of the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers Association is important for this reason.

By receiving retired officers and listening carefully to their concerns, the CDS is reinforcing the principle that those who served Nigeria deserve dignity, recognition and continued institutional support long after leaving active service.

His assurance that adjustments to the emoluments of serving personnel have corresponding implications for veterans is particularly significant.

Pensioners should not feel forgotten whenever improvements are made for those still in uniform. The military is an institution built on continuity, and today’s serving officer will eventually become tomorrow’s veteran. Protecting the welfare of retirees, therefore, strengthens confidence among those currently serving and assures them that their sacrifices will not be forgotten after retirement.

The Defence Headquarters’ collaboration with the Bank of Industry to facilitate access to low-interest financing for serving and retired military personnel is another practical initiative worth encouraging. Not every veteran will want to remain dependent solely on a pension. Many possess valuable skills, experience and specialised knowledge that can be converted into productive businesses. Giving them access to affordable capital can help them build sustainable livelihoods while allowing their expertise to continue contributing meaningfully to the wider economy.

The proposed database of retired military officers is equally promising. Nigeria has thousands of former officers with experience in administration, engineering, logistics, security, management and other specialised areas. A properly organised and accessible database can make it easier for businesses, institutions and government agencies to identify veterans whose knowledge and expertise can still be useful.

Retirement should mean the end of active military duty, not the end of a person’s relevance to national development.

Ultimately, Oluyede’s emerging military philosophy suggests that the welfare of troops cannot be separated from the broader reform of the Armed Forces.

Better command structures, stronger training, modern technology, reliable equipment, local manufacturing capacity, improved pay and meaningful support for families all contribute directly to the wellness of the soldier. His central objective is to build a military in which personnel are not merely expected to make sacrifices but are also assured that the institution will stand firmly behind them.

The true measure of military leadership should ultimately include how it treats the people who make military operations possible. General Olufemi Oluyede is already deepening a culture in which operational effectiveness and human well-being reinforce each other. Nigeria needs courageous soldiers, but it also owes those soldiers a system that values their lives, protects their dignity and supports them beyond the battlefield.

When the welfare of troops and veterans is treated as a strategic priority, as CDS Oluyede is doing, the nation does not merely build a stronger military; it builds a more confident, professional and resilient force capable of defending Nigeria with greater effectiveness.

Oche writes from Mubi, Adamawa State.