By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to stay away from politics if they must succeed where their predecessors did not do well.

A statement signed by the National President of the Union, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, and issued on Thursday also stated that the change of guards at the Defence Headquarters and the various service arms after months of intense calls by the National Assembly, media, socio-cultural organisations, pressure groups including the NUJ though belated, is however welcomed.

He said what Nigerians need now, is the security of their lives and property to enable them live decent lives.

“NUJ hopes that the new Service Chiefs would put in their best to end the rising cases of insecurity threatening the existence of the country by understanding that their appointments are not for merriment, but for hard work and total commitment to the fatherland.

“It is our hope, that the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Leo Irabor, will properly coordinate the other Service Chiefs to immediately confront Boko Haram insurgents, banditry and kidnappings appropriately in the best interest of the country,” the NUJ President said.

He also cautioned the new Service Chiefs not to see their assignments as opportunities to amass wealth for themselves, families or friends, but rather as a challenge to re-engineer the country’s security architecture that has suffered serious setbacks.

While appealing to the Federal Government to provide adequate arms and equipment to the armed forces, Comrade Isiguzo further asked the new service chiefs to provide adequate welfare and wellbeing of the fighting men and women.

“It will be foolhardy for the Service Chiefs to ignore the welfare of their Officers and Soldiers in the onerous task ahead of them because success can only be achieved through boosting the morale of troops at various areas of operations,” he said.

In the same vain the president appealed for the continuous support of Nigerians for the armed forces.

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