Breaking: Nigerian Army Indefinitely suspends Statutory and Voluntary retirements
The Nigerian Army has indefinitely suspended all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers, in response to the nationwide security emergency declared by President Tinubu.
An internal memo dated 3 December, signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, explained that the measure is intended to preserve manpower, expertise, and operational readiness while the Armed Forces rapidly expand to tackle escalating insecurity.
Citing the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers (HTACOS) 2024, the document pointed out that officers normally retire upon reaching the prescribed age for their rank, completing 35 years of service, or after repeated failures in promotion or conversion processes. However, Paragraph 3.10(e) permits service extensions when it is 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.”
The suspension affects officers in the following categories:
- Those who have failed promotion examinations three times
- Those passed over for promotion three times
- Those who have reached the age ceiling for their current rank
- Those who have failed conversion boards three times
- Those who have completed 35 years of service
Affected officers who wish to remain in service may apply for an extension beyond their original retirement dates.
However, the memo clarified: “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.”