Following President Bola Tinubu‘s declaration of a statewide security emergency, the Nigerian Army stopped all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers.
An internal document dated December 3 and signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff indicated that the suspension of retirements was necessary to maintain manpower, experience, and operational capability as the Armed Forces expanded in response to increased insecurity.
The document, which referred to the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, stated that, while officers are typically expected to retire when they reach their age limit, complete 35 years of service, or fail multiple promotions or conversions, service extension is permitted under Paragraph 3.10(e) in the interest of the military.
The memo partly read,
“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 period of service is determined by conditions enshrined in the HTACOS Officers 2024. These include attainment of age ceilings on various ranks, 35 years maximum length of service, and other criteria provided in Paragraphs 11.02(d) and 17.15, among extant regulations.
“Notwithstanding these provisions, Chapter 3.10(e) of HTACOS Officers 2024 allows for extension of service to officers in the interest of the service.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26, mandating the expansion of the AFN and other security agencies. In line with this, and to rapidly expand manpower, it has become expedient to temporarily suspend all statutory and voluntary retirements from the Nigerian Army with immediate effect.”
According to the circular, the temporary suspension applies to the following officers: officers who failed promotion examinations three times; officers who were passed over three times at promotion boards; officers who have reached the age limit for their ranks; officers who failed conversion boards three times; and officers who have reached 35 years of service.
The Army stated that impacted officers may request to serve beyond their customary retirement dates.
“Officers in these categories who are not interested in extension of service are to continue with the normal retirement procedure. Officers desirous of extension should note that upon extension, they are not eligible for career progression, including promotion, career courses, NA sponsorship, self-sponsored courses, secondment, or extra-regimental appointments,” the memo stated.
It instructed all commanders to spread the directive and control morale, and said that the policy would be revisited if the security situation improved.
Source: PUNCH
