What Happens when Military Deviates From Professionalism to Chase After Commercial Interests- CISLAC/TI Recommends Policy Status On Managing Conflicts 

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with Transparency International (TI) with support from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands have outlined recommendations on ways of managing shortfalls arising from conflicts between adherence to military professionalism and military commercial interests.

CISLAC made the recommendations on Tuesday in PortHarcourt,Rivers State during the launch of the book “Balancing Military Professionalism With Commercial Interests:Confronting Conflict Of Interest Risks To Security in Nigeria”.

The Program manager of CISLAC/TI Nigeria,Abubakar Jimoh stated that the policy brief examines the extent of involvement of the military in commercial venture,with specific focus on the implications .
Mr Jimoh disclosed that by design,the military’s primary duty,as an agent of the state,is that of defending a country from internal and external aggression.

He said the wide policy and academic interest regarding the involvement of the military in commercial ventures is linked to its impact on both the national economy and civil-military relations.

CISLAC/TI recommended the strengthening of legislative,executive and civil society oversights over the commercial ventures of the military, Balancing of the professional duty of the military with its commercial activities,undertaking audit of personnel and resources deployed for commercial ventures, declassify military -related commercial spendings,submission of annual accounts by the military as ways of managing shortfalls arising from conflict between adherence to military professionalism and military commercial interests.

CISLAC/TI further recommended that Auditor General of the federation should audit all military commercial ventures.

CISLAC/TI also launched the book titled “Fixing A Faltering CounterInsurgency: Systemic Reforms To Overcome BokoHaram In Nigeria” .
The policy brief of the book reflects on the nature and impact of a delayed troop rotation,incidents of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD), and the complicity of security forces in trafficking of small arms and consequences of mission success.

CISLAC recommended overhauling of deployment strategy and troop rotation framework,prioritising the general welfare of troops,deployment of mobile team of psychologists that are skilled in cognitive Behavioural Therapy among other suggestion.