The Nigerian Army has temporarily suspended all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers as part of the federal government’s response to the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The decision follows rising insecurity and a surge in mass abductions across the country by bandits and terrorists.
President Tinubu had, on November 26, declared a national security emergency and directed the Armed Forces, police and intelligence agencies to expand recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel to restore stability.
An internal memo dated December 3, signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, stated that suspending retirements was necessary to retain manpower, operational experience and institutional knowledge as the military scales up operations nationwide.
The document, citing the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, explained that while officers typically retire upon reaching age limits, completing 35 years of service or failing promotion or conversion boards, Paragraph 3.10(e) allows for service extension “in the interest of the military.”
The memo read in part, “The President and Commander-in-Chief declared a nationwide security emergency on November 26, mandating an expansion of the Armed Forces of Nigeria 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 temporary freeze applies to officers who have failed promotion examinations or conversion boards three times, officers passed over at promotion boards, those who have reached the age ceiling for their ranks, and those who have attained 35 years of service.
Affected officers may apply to continue serving beyond their retirement dates. However, those who opt for extension will not be eligible for further promotions, career courses, sponsorships or extra-regimental appointments.
“Officers not interested in extension are to proceed with the normal retirement procedure,” the memo noted, directing commanders to manage morale and ensure full dissemination of the directive. It added that the policy would be reviewed as the security situation improves.
