The Nigerian Army has suspended all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers, citing the nationwide security emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The directive, issued through an internal memo dated December 3, 2025, was signed by Major General E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.
According to Okoro, the suspension is a strategic response to Nigeria’s escalating security challenges and aims to retain experienced personnel as the Armed Forces undergo rapid expansion.
He explained that the measure is necessary “to preserve manpower, expertise, and operational readiness” at a time when Nigeria requires a strengthened security architecture.
The memo referenced the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers (HTACOS) 2024, which ordinarily mandates retirement upon reaching the age ceiling for a rank, completing 35 years in service, or failing promotion or conversion assessments multiple times. However, it noted that the regulations also make exceptions.
“Military service of a commissioned officer entails a period of unbroken service in the AFN from the date of enlistment or commissioning to the date of retirement. The period of service is determined by conditions enshrined in the HTACOS Officers 2024. These include attainment of age ceilings on various ranks, 35 years maximum length of service, and other criteria provided in Paragraphs 11.02(d) and 17.15, among extant regulations,” the memo stated.
It added that:
“Notwithstanding these provisions, Chapter 3.10(e) of HTACOS Officers 2024 allows for extension of service to officers in the interest of the service.”
Okoro explained that President Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency on November 26 requires the rapid expansion of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
“In line with this, and to rapidly expand manpower, it has become expedient to temporarily suspend all statutory and voluntary retirements from the Nigerian Army with immediate effect,” the memo read.
The suspension affects officers who fall into any of the following categories:
- Those who have failed promotion examinations three times;
- Those passed over for promotion on three occasions;
- Those who have reached the age ceiling for their rank;
- Those who have failed conversion boards three times;
- Those who have completed 35 years of service.
The memo noted that affected officers may apply to continue service beyond their original retirement dates if they wish. However, it issued a clear caveat:
“Officers in these categories who are not interested in extension of service are to continue with the normal retirement procedure. Officers desirous of extension should note that upon extension, they are not eligible for career progression, including promotion, career courses, NA sponsorship, self-sponsored courses, secondment, or extra-regimental appointments.”
