Nigerian Army Suspends Officers Retirement Amid Security Emergency
The Nigerian Army has announced the suspension of all statutory and voluntary retirements for certain categories of officers, following the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.
The move comes in response to the escalating insecurity in the country, with over 600 cases of mass abductions recorded in November alone. Notable incidents included the kidnapping of over 300 students in Niger State, 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and 25 students in Kebbi State, among others.
In light of these incidents, President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26, directing the military, police, and intelligence agencies to significantly expand recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel to combat the rising wave of kidnappings and terrorism.
An internal memo, dated December 3 and signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, outlined the decision to suspend retirements for affected officers.
The directive emphasised the need to retain experienced personnel to maintain operational capacity as the Armed Forces scale up efforts to tackle the growing security crisis.
The memo referred to the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, noting that while officers are usually expected to retire upon reaching their age limit, completing 35 years of service, or after repeated promotion or conversion failures, extensions of service are permissible under Paragraph 3.10(e) in the interest of the military’s operational needs.
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 officers who fall into the following categories: officers who failed promotion examinations three times; officers who were passed over three times at promotion boards; officers who have reached the age ceiling for their ranks; officers who failed conversion boards three times; and officers who have attained 35 years of service.
The Army noted that affected officers may apply to continue serving beyond their normal 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 directed all commanders to disseminate the directive and manage morale, adding that the policy would be reviewed as the security situation improves.