Major ShakeUp In Army As 120 Generals, Brigadiers, Colonels, Others Retire

A major shakeup is imminent in the high command of the Nigerian Army following the planned compulsory retirement of over 120 Major-Generals, Brigadiers, Colonels, Lieutenants, Captains, and others.

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.

According to The Punch, the compulsory retirement was in accordance with the Public Service Rules and the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service, 2017 (Revised).

It was 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.

It was learned that the first batch was given a deadline of December 24, 2022, to tender their retirement letters and the affected personnel would proceed on the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave from January.

According to the report, the majority of the concerned officers had complied with the directive to avoid hostile actions from the authorities.

The development has, however, generated consternation in the Army with many querying the rationale behind the mass retrenchment.

An officer who spoke with The Punch on the condition of anonymity accused the military authorities of disobeying a directive from the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) that the exercise should be suspended till after the 2023 elections.

The newspaper quoted the source as saying, “Over 120 top officers were served letters of mandatory retirement by the Army authorities. The affected officers include major generals, brigadier-generals, brigadiers, colonels, captains and other middle-level officers, who were unable to pass their promotion examinations after three attempts.

“But there are two rules guiding this issue: if one fails to pass his promotion exams after three attempts, he could be considered on the basis of the years he has spent on the rank.

“Though the authorities informed us that those who failed to pass their exams would be considered on the basis of age on rank, they reneged on this and instead directed us to put in our voluntary retirement letters. This is not fair.”

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.

Another source, who confirmed the development to the newspaper, said the letters issued to the affected officers were signed by the Military Secretary, Army, Major General J. Abdussalam.

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.

He said, “The officers who were asked to submit letters of voluntary retirement were more than 100. The military directive was contained in a letter dated October 24, 2022, but it was served on them sometime in November.

“They were given a deadline of December 24, 2022, to tender their letters otherwise the Nigerian Army would compel them to go on compulsory retirement.  They are to commence their terminal leave in either February or March 2023.

“The reasons for the disengagement are varied. Some had to do with age on rank or cases of indiscipline and other reasons known to the Chief of Army Staff and the Military Secretary (Army).

“Some failed promotion examinations three times. For example, some brigadier-generals failed their promotion exams to major-general during their third and last attempt this year.”

According to the report, some of the officers had been lobbying top retired military officers, including a former Chief of Staff, for assistance.

However, the report said there are indications that the aggrieved officers might have appealed to the CoAS, Lt Gen Farouk Yahaya, and President Muhammadu Buhari for an extension of service in line with Chapter 11, Section 2(e) of the HTACOS.

The section states, “An officer called upon to retire, resign or to relinquish his commission shall if he so desires, appeal to Mr President, the C-in-C (Commander-In-Chief) through the CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) within 30 days to have his case reconsidered.”

Naija News reports that some of the affected officers were said to fail to file any appeal because they were given assurances that the exercise might be reviewed.