Military Personnel Banned From Homosexuality, Tattoo, Others

President Bola Tinubu has approved a comprehensive revision of the ‘Harmonised Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service’, which explicitly prohibits military personnel from engaging in acts deemed contrary to the ethics of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

These included homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, cross-dressing, body piercing, tattooing, disorderly behaviour, and drunkenness, among others.

The revised directive, signed on December 16, 2024, outlined strict conduct guidelines for officers, emphasising professionalism and decorum both on and off duty.

The document, obtained by our correspondent, specifies that, “An officer must not engage in homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality. He/she is not to belong to, or engage in activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) group and cross-dressing, amongst others.”

Body piercing and tattooing are also banned, with the document stating, “An officer must not engage in body piercing and tattooing of any part of his body.”

Additionally, disorderly behaviour, drunkenness, and public disgrace are strictly prohibited, “An officer shall not engage in any form of disorderly behavior, brawl, or any action of public disgrace. An officer must not at any time be drunk whether on or off duty.”

Military personnel are also restricted from engaging in amorous relationships with subordinates or their spouses. The document stipulates, “An officer shall not engage in any amorous relationship with any soldier/rating/airman/airwoman, fellow officers or soldier’s/rating’s/airman’s/airwoman’s spouse.”

Financial obligations must be met promptly, and officers are prohibited from joining secret societies or political parties. The directive warned, “An officer shall pay all just financial obligations in a proper and timely manner, especially those imposed by law and mutual contract.”

It added, “An officer shall not hold membership of any secret society or political party. He shall not participate, in any way, in activities concerned with such societies or parties even in observatory capacities.”

However, cultural and traditional societies that are not secretive by nature were exempted from this restriction.

The revised terms also bar officers from running private businesses or misusing government property for personal gain. According to the document, “An officer shall not engage in private business. He shall not use or be allowed to use government property, his name, position, and connection in any way with commercial enterprises outside employment or activity with or without compensation, which interfere or has the tendency of interfering with his official duty or which may be reasonably expected to bring discredit to the Service.”

Accepting gifts, favours, or entertainment from junior officers is also forbidden, “An officer shall not accept gifts, favours, entertainments, etc., from officers junior to him in rank or from soldiers/ratings/airmen/airwomen.”