House of Representatives is expected to commence debate on the general principles of a Bill which seeks to provide for the engagement of senior retired Army Officers.
The private member Bill, sponsored by Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi, seeks to amend the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, proposed the engagement as Consultants, of Senior Compulsorily Retired Officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces to provide training and guidance to serving officers and for related matters.
According to him, the affected Officers were compulsorily retired by reason of the appointment by the President as a Chief of Defence Staff or a Service Chief.
The sponsor of the legislation proposed the insertion of a new section 18A as well as the amendment of section 30 of the Principal Act.
Hon. Gbewfi also proposed amendment to Section 30 of the Principal Act by inserting, after the existing subsection (3), a new subsection (4) which states that: “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Principal Act, the age of retirement for members of the Armed Forces shall be 40 years of Service or 65 years of age whichever comes first.”
As stipulated in the Explanatory Memorandum, the purpose of this bill is to ensure that serving Military Officers learn from the wealth of knowledge and experiences of retired senior military officers compulsorily retired as a result of the appointment of their junior as Chief of Defence Staff or Service Chiefs.
The Bill, which passed through First Reading, is expected to be gazetted for Second Reading by the House Committee on Rules and Business chaired by Hon. Francis Waive.
