Senior military officers have until Monday to resign – Defence Headquarters

Following President Bola Tinubu’s selection of the new service heads, this incident occurred.

All senior officers having “seniority on commission” above the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 39 are required to proceed with their voluntary retirement, according to the Defence Headquarters.

Following President Bola Tinubu’s selection of the new service heads, this incident occurred.

The Chief of Defence Staff’s announcement from Defence Headquarters, which was signed on Monday by Maj-Gen. Y. Yayaha, announced the Chief of Defence Staff’s departure.

According to the message, which begins, “I am directed to humbly request services to direct all officers with seniority on commission above that of Nigerian Defence Academy(NDA) regular course 39 to file their applications for voluntary retirement from service with immediate effect.

“I am to further add that affected officers are to submit their applications to their respective service headquarters no later than Monday, July 3, 2023.”

Due to the new appointments’ requirement for the forced retirement of about 100 top officers, including Generals, Brigadiers-General, Air Vice Marshals, and Admirals in the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, according to military tradition, senior officers are unlikely to follow orders from their juniors.

However, the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa, is a member of 38 regular courses, 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 courses. The affected senior officers who are expected to file in their voluntary retirement are officers above the NDA regular course 39.