Military Denies Discrimination Against Varsity Commissioned Officers

The Defence Headquarters has denied report that the draft Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) was discriminatory against university commissioned officers.

The acting director Defence Information Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau said contrary to report, the proposed draft aims to enhance personnel welfare and efficiency.

He admitted that the current HTACOS was signed by the then President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017 and is to be reviewed every five years.

He also said the current leadership of the AFN has kick started the process of reviewing the 2017 HTACOS which is long overdue.

He said the committee of officers involved in the review comprises members from the three services and across different professions in the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

“As it stands, the draft is actually intended to be refined further by inputs from stakeholders.

“Pertinently, the document is aimed at enhancing efficiency and the general welfare of the members of the AFN and also focuses the effective discharge of AFN constitutional mandate especially in this period the AFN is engaged in addressing multiple security challenges across the nation and even beyond the shores of Nigeria. Consequently, it would be counterproductive to target or retard the growth or progression of any category of officers in the Armed Forces of Nigeria as suggested by the media reports”.

Brig-Gen Gusau said, „the publication clearly shows lack of in-depth research as it could have consult appropriate authorities instead of hearsay ”

He called on Nigerians, particularly members of the Armed Forces, to disregard the publications and revert to the proper channels of communication as laid down by the AFN.

Despite his claim, a draft of the proposed HTACOS intends to keep University commission officers who enlisted into the military two extra years on the rank before being promoted, a development that has triggered tension in the service.

Chapter 17, of the document states that while the junior regular officers spend five years on the rank, Short Service officers spend seven years on the rank before being promoted.