There seems to be a concern with this sitting arrangement of the Service Chiefs, and it would be worthwhile to review it in order to maintain the discipline and regimentation that define the armed forces. It may appear minor to outsiders, but within the military such details carry significant meaning.
Ordinarily, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) should not be seated ahead of the Service Chiefs of the Navy and Air Force. The conventional protocol would place them in the order: CDS, COAS, CNS, CAS, and then CDI.
If the CDI sat directly after the CDS – before all the Service Chiefs – it would still raise questions but could at least be interpreted as grouping the Defence HQ chiefs together. However, the COAS sat next to the CDS, while the CNS and CAS were placed after the CDI, which made it look like the COAS was senior to the other 2 Service Chiefs who had to sit after the CDI.
Even considering course seniority, the COAS (41RC) is junior to both the CNS and CAS (40RC), and the CDI (39RC), which makes the current order more difficult to justify.
The CNS was absent and was represented by a 2-star general. If that was the reason for re-ordering of the sitting arrangement, then the CAS who is a 3-star general should have sat before the rep of the CNS!
These are the kinds of internal protocol matters one would expect to be handled carefully, especially given existing concerns about esprit de corps within the services. Reports of inter-service friction – such as instances where air support was refused to ground troops in the past – are reminders of why maintaining clear and respectful hierarchies is essential.
Another issue is that, while it is appropriate for the Service Chiefs to report to the Minister of Defence thus bringing the armed forces under civil authority, placing them under the supervision of the National Security Adviser may lead to structural ambiguities, as the NSA’s role is advisory as an aide to the President. The NSA is not in the chain of command and has no executive role!
It would be beneficial for Gen Musa to take the lead in reinforcing unity within the armed forces by ensuring that established protocols and the order of seniority are consistently respected. This would go a long way in addressing any lingering perceptions of imbalance and in strengthening cohesion across the services. We need all hands on deck to win the war against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other sundry criminal activities!
Source: Nick Agule.
