Nigerian Army imposes indefinite suspension on officers’ retirement

The Nigerian Army has placed an indefinite freeze on both statutory and voluntary retirements for selected categories of officers, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency.

An internal memo dated December 3 and signed by Major General E. I. Okoro, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, said the directive became necessary to safeguard manpower levels, retain critical expertise and enhance operational capacity as the armed forces intensify counter-insecurity operations across the country.

The memo referenced the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers 2024, outlining the conventional grounds for retirement—age limits, completion of 35 years in service, and failure in promotion or conversion processes, but stressed that service extensions may be invoked when national security requires it.

“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 memo said.

According to the document, the suspension covers officers who have failed promotion examinations three times, have been passed over for promotion three times, have reached the mandatory age limit for their rank, have failed conversion boards three times, or have completed 35 years in service.

Affected officers who wish to remain in uniform are required to formally request an extension of service.

“Officers in these categories who are not interested in extension of service are to continue with the normal retirement procedure.

President Tinubu, on November 26, declared a nationwide security emergency and directed the military, police, and intelligence agencies to expand recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel.

This comes after over cases of mass abductions were recorded in November alone. Some of the incidents included the kidnapping of over 300 students in Niger State, 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and 25 students in Kebbi State, among others.