The Defence Headquarters on Monday ordered the voluntary retirement of a ‘generation’ of top military brass after the appointment of new service chiefs by President Bola Tinubu. The Defence Headquarters in a statement on Monday by Maj-Gen. Y. Yayaha, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, indicated that all Senior officers with “seniority on commission “above Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 39,” have been directed to proceed on voluntary retirement.
The statement explained that the operations in the military do not permit senior officers to take orders from their juniors, adding that the new appointments require the compulsory retirement of about 100 top military brass, which include Generals, Brigadiers-General, Air Vice Marshals, and Admirals in the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The statement on Monday read in part:
“I am directed to respectfully request services to direct all officers with seniority on commission above that of Nigerian Defence Academy(NDA) regular course 39 to submit their applications for voluntary retirement from service with immediate effect,” the statement reads in part:
“I am to add that affected officers are to submit their applications to their respective service headquarters no later than on Monday, July 3, 2023.”
Meanwhile, it was pointed out officers above the NDA regular course 39, include the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa; who was a participant in 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, who were participants in 39 regular course. They are, however, appointed by President Tinubu to head the various arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
All former service chiefs fall into the generation of Generals compelled to proceed on retirement.