The Nigerian military high command has directed officers who are senior to the newly appointed Service Chiefs to turn in their application of voluntary retirement from service. This has become a tradition in the army. In 1999 when former President Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office, all officers above the course timeline of the service chiefs, including those who held political appointments were compulsorily retired.

The massive retirement in the military will affect major-generals, brigadiers- general, air vice marshals, and admirals in the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Nigerian Navy According to the information the directive is to be acted on with immediate effort. The affected senior officers who are expected to file in their voluntary retirement are officers above the NDA Regular Course 39.

The latest top retirement in the Nigerian Armed forces is not unconnected to the latest appointment of Service Chiefs by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa is a member of 38 Regular Course, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral, Emmanuel Ogalla, and the Chief of Air Staff, and Air Vice Marshal, Hassan Abubakar are members of 39 Regular Course.

There are, however, senior officers who are of Course 37 and 38 still in service. According to military tradition, senior officers are not to take orders from their juniors. The affected officers are expected to turn in their voluntary retirement applications not later than Monday July 3.

This was made known in a statement from the Defence Headquarters and signed by Maj-Gen. Y Yaha- ya for the Chief of Defence Staff. The memo read: “It would be recalled that the President, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently appointed new CDS and Service Chiefs on June 19, 2023.

In order to preserve and uphold the tenets of the military profession which values hierarchy and service discipline, it is important that all officers whose officer cadet courses run seniority above that of the current Service Chiefs disengage from the Service.

“Consequently, I am directed to respectfully request Services to direct all officers with seniority on com- mission above that of NDA Regular Course 39 to submit their applications for voluntary retirement from Service with immediate effect. I am to add that affected officers are to submit their applications to their respective Service Headquarters no later than Mon July 3, 2023.”