New service chiefs: 100 military Generals to retire July 3
The military high command has given officers who are senior to the newly appointed services till July 3, 2023, to voluntarily retire from service.
According to military tradition, senior officers are unlikely to take orders from their juniors.
A circular dated June 26, 2023 and signed on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff by Major General Y Yahaya said the affected officers must tender their resignation letters to preserve and uphold the tenets of the military profession.
The circular with reference number number DHQ/ J5/ PLANS /801/13 was titled: VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT FROM SERVICE -OFFICERS WITH SENIORITY ON COMMISSION ABOVE NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY REGULAR COURSE 39.
The circular read, “It would be recalled that the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently appointed new CDS and Service Chiefs on June 19, 2023. In order to preserve and uphold the tenets of the military profession which values hierarchy and service discipline, it is important that all officers whose officer cadet courses run seniority above that of the current Service Chiefs disengage from the Service.
“Consequently, I am directed to respectfully request Services to direct all officers with seniority on commission above that of NDA Regular Course 39 to submit their applications for voluntary retirement from Service with immediate effect. I am to add that affected officers are to submit their applications to their respective Service Headquarters not later than Monday July 3, 2023.”
With this new development, about 100 top officers, including generals, brigadiers-general, air vice marshals, and admirals in the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Nigerian Navy would be affected.
The new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa is a member of 38 Regular Course, 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 Course.
There are, however, senior officers who are of course 37 and 38 in service.
Although The Point could not ascertain how many senior officers may be affected by this directive, but our source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that more than 100 Generals across the three Armed Forces will be affected.
In line with precedence, the new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen. Christopher Musa is expected to adorn a full four-star General rank, while the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen, Taoreed Lagbaja will be decorated with the three-star rank of Lieutenant General, and Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla with take up the Air Marshal rank.
According to tradition, the top military officers, particularly, members of Course 37, Course 38, and Course 39 would likely leave the service because the new CDS is a member of 38 Regular Course, the COAS, the CNS, and the CAS are members of 39 Regular Course.
The retirement is happening six months after 24 Major Generals and 38 Brigadier Generals retired in December 2022 after serving the nation for 35 years.
According to investigation by The Point, some of the officers of senior brass speculated to retire alongside the former service chiefs are the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj Gen Ibrahim Yusuf; the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Murtala Bashir; the Chief of Policy and Plans, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal IG Lubo; the Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Air Vice Marshal Oluwarotimi Tuwase, amongst others.
