DHQ Gives Senior Military Officers Deadline To Retire

The Defence Headquarters has ordered senior military officers with seniority on commission above that of the current service chiefs to retire latest by July 3, 2023.

This is following reports that some senior officers who are not comfortable with the appointment of Service Chiefs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are refusing to retire to give room for command and control.

President Tinubu had on 19 June, 2023 retired service chiefs who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari and replaced them with new ones.

A letter spotted by LEADERSHIP but not confirmed asked the senior military officers to put in papers for retirement latest July 3, 2023.

The letter dated 26 June 2023 signed by Major General Y. Yahaya onbehalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen Christopher Musa 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 19 June 23.

“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 Mon 3 July 23.”

The Acting director Defence Information Brig. Gen Tukur Gusau did not respond to inquiries however, the letter confirms LEADERSHIP earlier report that members of courses 37, 38 and some members of course 39 will have to leave the service for command and control following the appointment of new service chiefs.

LEADERSHIP had reported that dozens of military generals will be forced out of the service, a development many received with mix feelings.