The Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Bamalli, has lent his support to a proposed bill seeking to amend the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Act. This endorsement came during an advocacy visit by the Parents and Instructors Association, Nigeria Military School (NMS), who are championing the legislative change.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the primary objective of the bill is to establish a clear and seamless pathway for graduates of the four existing military schools to transition directly into the NDA.
Mr. Ikenna Madueke, chairman of the association, clarified that the visit to the Emir was to garner his influential support for the bill as it progresses through the National Assembly. Madueke reiterated that the amendment to the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Act is specifically intended to facilitate the smooth and structured entry of students from the various Nigerian military schools into the academy.
He said the four military schools are: Nigeria Military School, Zaria, Kaduna State; Air force Military, School Jos, Plateau; Air Force Military School (Girls), Jos and Navy Military School Ikot-Ituen, Akwa Ibom.
“These schools train the students both in academics and military training, by the time they graduate from the school, they have become masters in arms and martial arts.
“We are looking at the way where these military trainings could be harnessed through the integration of the graduates of the military schools at the NDA, just as it was obtained globally.
“The idea is to assist students of these schools who intend to pursue a career in the Nigerian Armed Forces towards enhancing the combat strength of the armed forces,’’ the chairman said.
He, therefore, appealed to the government and other key stakeholders in the sector for an expansion of the budgetary provisions for military training to bolster the manpower needs of the armed forces.
In his remarks, the royal father said the presentation was brilliant, timely, vowing, “ we will make a follow up on it.’’
Bamalli said he would personally speak with the leadership of the national assembly on better ways of passing the bill.
He said, “It is absurd for the graduates of military schools not to have access to higher military training at the NDA,” adding that most of the boys and girls were more disciplined and patriotic.
Bamalli said that the students were already trained in weapons handling and other military skills, adding, “so, allowing these cohorts to miss higher military training is a colossal waste of human resource to the security.
