The Nigerian Army has suspended all statutory and voluntary retirements for officers with immediate effect, citing the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on 26 November.
In an internal memo dated 3 December and signed by Maj. Gen. E.I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, the Army invoked Paragraph 3.10(e) of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers (HTACOS) 2024, which allows service extensions “in the interest of the service” during exceptional circumstances.
The directive is designed to retain critical manpower and expertise as the Armed Forces of Nigeria rapidly expands to confront escalating terrorism, banditry, and other threats across the country.
Categories of officers now barred from retiring include:
- Those who have reached the mandatory retirement age for their rank
- Officers with 35 years of pensionable service
- Those passed over for promotion three consecutive times
- Officers who have failed promotion examinations three times
- Those who have failed conversion boards three times
The memo states:
“In line with the President and Commander-in-Chief’s directive to expand the Armed Forces and other security agencies, it has become expedient to temporarily suspend all statutory and voluntary retirements from the Nigerian Army with immediate effect.”Key conditions for affected officers:Officers who wish to leave may still proceed with normal retirement processing.
Those who apply to stay will have their service extended but will be frozen from further career progression, no promotions, courses (sponsored or self-funded), secondments, or extra-regimental postings.
Military sources described the measure as unprecedented in recent decades, underscoring the severity of the current security situation and the urgent need to retain experienced personnel during the ongoing recruitment and restructuring drive.
The suspension will remain in force until further notice.
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