By Aaron Ossai
A Bill seeking to establish the Joint Doctrine and Welfare Centre, a proposed strategic think-tank aimed at strengthening the operational capacity, coordination and effectiveness of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, yesterday scaled through second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The Bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre to Enhance the Coordination and Effectiveness of Military Operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria by Integrating the Capabilities of Its Respective Services; and for Related Matters (HB 2741)” was sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
The proposed centre is designed to serve as a hub for defence research, doctrine development, strategic planning, and warfare innovation, with a focus on improving collaboration among Nigeria’s military and paramilitary institutions.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill on behalf of the Speaker, Plateau lawmaker, Hon. Daniel Asama, said the proposed legislation is intended to address critical gaps in Nigeria’s defence architecture, particularly the absence of a dedicated institution for the formulation and coordination of joint military doctrines.
According to him, the centre will provide a comprehensive framework for the development, validation, and dissemination of joint military doctrines across the armed forces, while also coordinating interdisciplinary studies on multi-domain operations.
Hon. Asama noted that Nigeria’s security environment has become increasingly complex, requiring a more integrated and strategic response.
“Nigeria faces complex security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, and cyber warfare, requiring strategic doctrinal coordination among the Armed Forces.
“The absence of a dedicated institution for joint military doctrine formulation has created operational gaps and limited interoperability among the services”, he said.
Speaking further, the lawmaker explained that the proposed centre would function as both a think-tank and a centre of excellence for doctrine development and warfare strategy.
“This bill seeks to provide an institutional and legal framework for the recently established Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre as a think-tank and centre of excellence for doctrine development and warfare strategy.
“It addresses the need for integrated doctrine development, unified command thinking, and joint operational planning”, he added.
He described the legislation as timely and strategic, especially in light of Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
“This bill is strategic and timely, addressing Nigeria’s evolving security threats and promoting interoperability among the Armed Forces.
“It establishes a permanent platform for defence research, simulation, and policy coordination, thereby enhancing national security sustainability”, he further stated.
After a robust debate on the general principles of the Bill, it was referred to the House Committee on Defence for further legislative tinkering.
