By News360
The Nigerian House of Representatives is set to initiate discussions on a bill that aims to reintegrate senior retired Army Officers into the country’s armed forces.
The private member bill, sponsored by Hon. Gaza Gbefwi, seeks to amend the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, proposing the engagement of Senior Compulsorily Retired Officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces as Consultants to provide training and guidance to serving officers, among other related matters.
These retired officers faced compulsory retirement due to appointments by the President as Chief of Defence Staff or a Service Chief. The proposed legislation introduces a new section 18A and suggests an amendment to section 30 of the Principal Act.
Clause 2 of the proposed new section 18A outlines, “Any Senior Serving Member of the Armed Forces of the Federation required to retire compulsorily due to an officer of the same rank or a subordinate rank being appointed by the President as the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of the Naval Staff, or Chief of the Air Staff, shall be engaged as Senior technical consultants for the training of officers of the Armed Forces.”
Clause 18(2) specifies that the President will determine the terms and conditions of engagement, with a maximum period of 5 years.
Clause 18(3) clarifies that this provision does not apply to senior serving Members of the Armed Forces who were retired compulsorily for disciplinary, health, or other reasons not covered by Clause 2.
Additionally, Hon. Gbefwi proposed an amendment to Section 30 of the Principal Act, suggesting that the age of retirement for members of the Armed Forces should be either 40 years of service or 65 years of age, whichever comes first.
The bill’s Explanatory Memorandum emphasizes its aim to enable serving Military Officers to benefit from the knowledge and experience of retired senior military officers who were compulsorily retired when their juniors were appointed as Chief of Defence Staff or Service Chiefs.
This bill has already passed the First Reading and is expected to proceed to the Second Reading, as it awaits review by the House Committee on Rules and Business, chaired by Hon. Francis Waive.