The high command of the Nigerian Army has directed more 120 Major-Generals, Brigadiers, Colonels, Lieutenants, Captains and others to proceed on compulsory retirement.
According to a report, the affected officers, who include those who failed their Senior Staff Course Examinations, were ordered to submit their letters of voluntary retirement or face summary retrenchment. The exercise, it was gathered, was in accordance with the Revised Public Service Rules and the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service, 2017 (HTACOS).
It was also gathered that the number of senior and middle-level personnel that would be required to leave the Service might be higher than 120, as those concerned were being given their letters of compulsory retirement in batches. The first batch was given a deadline of December 24, 2022, to tender their retirement letters. It was further gathered that the affected personnel would proceed on the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave from January.
According to sources, the majority of the concerned officers had complied with the directive to avoid hostile actions from the authorities.
Despite protesting the failure of the Army high command to comply with the rules, it was learnt that the personnel were compelled to tender their notices of voluntary retirement with the option to complain or appeal later.
A source, who confirmed the development, said the letters issued to the affected officers were signed by the Military Secretary, Army, Major-General J. Abdulsalam. Apart from those who failed their promotion examinations, the source said those who had disciplinary cases and those who had spent the mandatory 35 years in service were equally affected.
However, there are indications that the aggrieved officers might have appealed to the CoAS, Lt.-General Farouk Yahaya, and President Muhammadu Buhari for extension of service in line with Chapter 11, Section 2(e) of the HTACOS. However, some of the affected officers, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, explained that they did not file any appeal because they were given assurances that the exercise might be reviewed.
The Director of Information, Nigerian Army, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, did not respond to requests for comments on Friday, but a retired military officer and security expert, Col. Hassan Stan-Labo, pointed out that retirement was routine in the military.
