In response to President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, the Nigerian Army has stated that all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers will be suspended.
With almost 600 incidences of mass kidnappings reported in November alone, the action is a reaction to the nation’s growing insecurity. Among the notable occurrences were the abduction of 25 students in Kebbi State, 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and more than 300 students in Niger State.
President Tinubu declared a national security emergency on November 26 in response to these attacks, ordering the military, police, and intelligence services to drastically increase recruitment and send thousands of extra soldiers to fight the escalating wave of terrorism and kidnappings.
On behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro signed an internal memo dated December 3 that detailed the decision to halt retirements for the impacted officers.
As the Armed Forces step up efforts to address the escalating security issue, the directive emphasized the necessity of retaining experienced people to sustain operational capacity.
Referencing the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, the memo noted that although officers are typically expected to retire upon reaching their age limit, completing 35 years of service, or following repeated promotion or conversion failures, extensions of service are allowed under Paragraph 3.10(e) in the interest of the military’s operational needs.
“Military service of a commissioned officer entails a period of unbroken service in the AFN from the date of enlistment or commissioning to the date of retirement,” the memo stated in part. The terms outlined in the HTACOS Officers 2024 govern the duration of service. These include meeting age restrictions for different positions, a maximum service period of 35 years, and other requirements listed in Paragraphs 11.02(d) and 17.15, among other current regulations.
Chapter 3.10(e) of HTACOS Officers 2024 permits officers to extend their service in the interest of the service, notwithstanding these clauses.
On November 26, the President and Commander-in-Chief proclaimed a national security emergency, requiring the AFN and other security agencies to be expanded. Accordingly, it has become necessary to immediately halt all statutory and voluntary retirements from the Nigerian Army with immediate effect in order to quickly increase manpower.
The circular states that officers who have failed promotion exams three times, passed promotion boards three times, reached the age limit for their rank, failed conversion boards three times, or completed 35 years of service are all subject to the temporary suspension.
Affected officers may apply to serve past their regular retirement dates, according to the Army.
Officers in these categories should proceed with the standard retirement process if they are not interested in extending their service. Officers who want an extension should be aware that they will not be able to advance in their careers through promotion, career courses, NA sponsorship, self-sponsored courses, secondment, or extra-regimental assignments, according to the memo.
It stated that the policy will be reassessed as the security situation improved and instructed all commanders to control morale and spread the instruction.
Veterans and Former Generals Respond to Retirement Suspension
In an interview with Punch, Awwal Abdullahi, the Secretary-General of the Military Veterans Federation of Nigeria, described it as a positive step.
“I strongly support it,” he declared. In addition to being insecure, these officers get taxpayer funding for their training, but appointments force them to retire early.
When service heads are appointed, junior officers are asked to leave; however, if a junior is appointed, these officers can be transferred to the defense headquarters, where they will directly report to the chief of defense staff.
Additionally, it is a waste of resources to retire these skilled officers because you appointed their junior because the majority of them have more experience than the junior ones. Therefore, I believe that delaying retirement is the best course of action.
Additionally, retired Brigadier General Peter Aro stated that keeping experienced personnel would help stabilize command structures during ongoing operations and that the action was a legitimate short-term emergency solution.
The Army must improve welfare and offer additional financial incentives, he said, even though the voluntary character of the extension was praiseworthy.
“Retaining seasoned officers and soldiers will help stabilize command, preserve operational experience, and prevent leadership gaps given the scale of insecurity and the shortage of experienced personnel,” said Aro. The policy’s requirement that officers declare their voluntary interest is praiseworthy.
However, there must be appropriate welfare and financial incentives because they won’t be able to advance in their careers or receive promotions. A higher wage and benefit package based on seniority and the extra years they must serve should be given to those who have used up all of their opportunities for advancement, age restrictions, or service years. Many might turn down the offer in the absence of such incentives.
Additionally, he urged the military to eliminate the “silent dichotomy” between permanent officers and short-service entrants and advocated for aggressive recruitment, expedited training, better welfare, and reforms to solve personnel shortages.
Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi (retd.), another former commander, supported the suspension as well, characterizing it as a sensible move in a dire security circumstance.
He maintained that serving the country after a typical retirement should be viewed as a privilege and an opportunity.
“This system is well-structured. I’m confident that the leadership will make any necessary changes to the terms and conditions of service,” he stated.
Adewinbi insisted that the current institutions would avoid confusion, dismissing worries that officers who failed promotion exams could find it difficult to serve under junior commanders.
George Emdin, a retired Brigadier General, also applauded the action, but he asked the military to abandon the custom of retiring commanders when their classmates become service heads, claiming that this practice deprives the military of important knowledge.
He was against keeping policemen who consistently failed promotion exams, nevertheless.
“Their welfare should be top-notch; the job is risky,” he continued.
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