No fewer than 1,008 soldiers have resigned from the Nigerian Army in the last four years.
The data was collated from media reports of resignations that took place between 2020 to 2024.
According to the data gathered, in 2023, the Nigerian Army approved the retirement of no fewer than 59 soldiers.
In August this year, 196 soldiers resigned from the Nigerian Army; while in 2022, a total of 261 soldiers resigned; and in 2021, 127 resigned while 365 resigned in 2020.
Reports further show that the soldiers who resigned had neither reached the retirement age limit nor completed the mandatory years of service in the force.
Responding to the turnover in the service, the Director, Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said service in the Nigerian Army was not involuntary but a profession that is done at free will.
He said : “Though I do not have the exact details of yearly retirements or discharge of personnel currently, I can say that officers and soldiers are processed for retirement or discharge by time, based on laid down criteria and provisions of the terms and conditions of service of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, especially those who have served out their mandatory 35 years of service.
“A few retire or discharge on medical grounds, while very few seek discharge voluntarily for personal reasons. Retiring or discharging from active service is, therefore, not a strange phenomenon, as this is also obtainable in other local and international security and civil organizations. I must add quickly that service in the Nigerian Army is not by conscription.”
He also added that, some of the soldiers pulled out of the force based on medical reasons, while others tied their resignation to personal reasons.
On the letter of disengagement dated August 23 signed by Brigadier O.H. Musa, the 196 soldiers were directed to proceed on terminal leave on November 1, 2024.
The statement read thus, : “In accordance with the provisions of References A and B, the COAS vide Reference C approved the voluntary discharge of the above-named soldier and 195 others listed in Annex A. The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave with effect from 1 November 2024 while their disengagement date takes effect from 30 November 2024’’
“Accordingly, I am directed to respectfully request you to cause the affected soldiers’ units to ensure that the discharging soldiers complete the following forms as enclosed and forward the same to this Department no later than 6 September 2024.”
Read More
