Professionalizing Nigeria's military is a critical and multi-faceted endeavor, especially given its history of political intervention and the complex security challenges the nation faces.

A professional military is one that is effective, accountable, respects human rights, and is unequivocally subordinate to civilian authority.

Here are the key reforms needed to professionalize Nigeria's military:

I. Enhancing Civilian Control and Oversight:

1. Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight:

   • Capacity Building: Equip the National Assembly (especially defense and security committees) with the expertise, resources, and independence to effectively scrutinize military budgets, procurement, policies, and operations. This includes hiring qualified legislative aides and engaging external experts.

   • Public Hearings: Conduct regular, transparent public hearings on defense matters, allowing for greater public scrutiny and accountability.

   • Confirmation Hearings: Rigorously scrutinize and confirm all senior military appointments, ensuring that only highly qualified and suitable individuals are appointed.

2. Empowering the Ministry of Defence (MOD):

   • Civilian Expertise: Strengthen the administrative and technical capacity of civilian personnel within the MOD. They must be equipped to formulate defense policy, manage budgets, oversee procurement, and provide effective strategic guidance to the military.

   • Policy Formulation: Ensure the MOD, under civilian leadership, leads the development of comprehensive national defense and security policies, with the military executing these policies.

3. Clear Delimitation of Roles:

   • Police Primacy in Internal Security: Re-emphasize and enforce the constitutional role of the Nigeria Police Force as the primary agency for internal security and law enforcement. The military should only be deployed in aid of civil power in exceptional circumstances, for limited durations, and with clear mandates. This reduces "mission creep" and prevents the militarization of policing.

   • Refocus on External Defense: Allow the military to refocus on its core mandate of defending Nigeria's territorial integrity from external threats, for which it is primarily trained and equipped.

II. Combating Corruption and Enhancing Financial Accountability:

1. Transparent Defense Budgeting and Procurement:

   • Full Disclosure: Implement full transparency in defense budgeting, making allocations and expenditures publicly accessible and auditable. End the opacity around "security votes."

   • E-Procurement Systems: Adopt robust e-procurement systems for all defense contracts to reduce human interface, minimize discretion, prevent bid-rigging, and ensure competitive bidding.

   • Independent Audits: Conduct regular, independent, and public audits of defense spending by external bodies, with clear consequences for corruption.

   • Asset Declaration Verification: Rigorously enforce the asset declaration laws for military officers, with lifestyle audits to detect illicit enrichment.

2. Strengthening Anti-Corruption Mechanisms:

   • Empower and provide independent oversight to military police and other internal accountability mechanisms.

   • Grant the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies a stronger mandate and resources to investigate and prosecute corruption within the defense sector, without political interference.

III. Improving Human Rights Compliance and Discipline:

1. Zero-Tolerance Policy for Abuses: Institute and enforce a genuine zero-tolerance policy for human rights violations by military personnel, whether against civilians or captured combatants.

2. Independent Investigative Mechanisms: Establish independent, well-resourced, and credible mechanisms for investigating all allegations of human rights abuses by military personnel. These investigations must be prompt, thorough, and transparent.

3. Accountability and Prosecution: Ensure that all military personnel found culpable of human rights violations, regardless of rank, are swiftly and impartially prosecuted and punished according to national and international laws. This is crucial for ending impunity and regaining public trust.

4. Comprehensive Human Rights Training: Integrate extensive and practical human rights, international humanitarian law, and rules of engagement (ROE) training into all military academies, training institutions, and pre-deployment exercises. This training should be continuous.

5. Grievance Redress Mechanisms: Establish accessible and trusted mechanisms for civilians to report abuses and seek redress, ensuring that victims receive justice and appropriate compensation.

IV. Professional Development and Welfare:

1. Merit-Based Promotions and Appointments: Implement a strictly merit-based system for recruitment, promotion, and appointments within the armed forces, eliminating nepotism, ethnic considerations, and political interference.

2. Enhanced Training and Education:

   • Modern Curricula: Update military training curricula to reflect contemporary security threats (asymmetric warfare, counter-insurgency, cyber warfare) and emphasize critical thinking, ethical leadership, and civil-military relations.

   • Investment in Institutions: Adequately fund and equip military academies, staff colleges, and specialized training centers.

   • Joint Operations Training: Promote joint training exercises among the Army, Navy, and Air Force to enhance interoperability and coordination.

3. Improved Welfare and Conditions of Service:

   • Ensure adequate and timely payment of salaries, allowances, and pensions.

   • Provide quality accommodation, healthcare, and educational facilities for military personnel and their families.

   • Address post-service welfare and rehabilitation for veterans, which can significantly boost morale and deter corruption.

4. Psychological Support: Provide robust psychological support and counseling services for troops deployed in high-stress combat zones, addressing issues like PTSD and mental health, which can impact discipline and conduct.

V. Strategic Planning and Force Optimization:

1. National Security Strategy: Develop a comprehensive, regularly reviewed, and publicly accessible National Security Strategy that clearly defines Nigeria's security threats, interests, and the military's role in addressing them.

2. Force Restructuring: Conduct a thorough review of force size, structure, and deployment to ensure it is appropriate, affordable, and aligned with current and future security challenges, avoiding overstretch.

3. Indigenous Defense Capability: Invest strategically in developing Nigeria's indigenous defense industrial complex to reduce reliance on foreign imports and ensure the timely availability of essential equipment.

Professionalizing the Nigerian military is a long-term project that requires unwavering political will, consistent funding, and a fundamental cultural shift within the institution itself. It is crucial for improving national security, strengthening democracy, and rebuilding public trust.