Television Nigerian

Following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, the Nigerian Army has stated that all statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers will be suspended.

With almost 600 mass kidnapping cases reported in November alone, the action is a reaction to the nation’s growing insecurity. Among the notable events were the abduction of more than 300 students in Niger State, 38 worshippers in Kwara State, and 25 students in Kebbi State.

President Tinubu declared a national security emergency on November 26 in response to these crimes, ordering the military, police, and intelligence services to greatly increase recruiting and deploy thousands of additional troops in order to counter the growing number of kidnappings and acts of terrorism.

The decision to halt retirements for impacted officers was detailed in an internal memo dated December 3 and signed by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff.

As the Armed Forces step up efforts to address the escalating security issue, the directive emphasized the necessity of keeping experienced people to sustain operational capacity.

Referencing the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, the memo stated that although officers are typically expected to retire upon reaching their age limit, completing 35 years of service, or following repeated promotion or conversion failures, extensions of service are allowed under Paragraph 3.10(e) in the interest of the military’s operational needs.

“A commissioned officer’s military service comprises a period of uninterrupted service in the AFN from the date of enlistment or commissioning to the date of retirement,” the document stated in part. The terms outlined in the HTACOS Officers 2024 define the duration of service. These include meeting age restrictions on different ranks, serving for a maximum of 35 years, and meeting additional requirements listed in Paragraphs 11.02(d) and 17.15, among other current regulations.

“Chapter 3.10(e) of HTACOS Officers 2024 permits officers to extend their service in the interest of the service, despite these limitations.

On November 26, the President and Commander-in-Chief proclaimed a national security emergency, requiring the AFN and other security agencies to be expanded. In keeping with this, it has become necessary to temporarily halt all statutory and voluntary retirements from the Nigerian Army with immediate effect in order to quickly increase manpower.

The circular states that officers who have failed promotion exams three times, passed promotion boards three times, reached the age limit for their ranks, failed conversion boards three times, and completed 35 years of service are all subject to a temporary suspension.

Affected officers may request to serve over their regular retirement dates, according to the Army.

“Officers in these categories should proceed with the standard retirement process if they are not interested in extending their service. According to the document, officers who want an extension should be aware that they will not be able to advance in their careers through career courses, promotion, NA sponsorship, self-sponsored courses, secondment, or extra-regimental postings.

It stated that the policy will be revised as the security situation improved and instructed all commanders to control morale and distribute the directive.

Ex-Generals and Veterans React to Retirement Suspension
In an interview with Punch, Awwal Abdullahi, Secretary-General of the Military Veterans Federation of Nigeria, described it as a positive step.

“I firmly support it,” he declared. In addition to being insecure, these policemen receive taxpayer funding for their training, yet due to appointments, many are retiring early.

When service heads are appointed, junior officers are asked to leave; however, if their junior is selected, these officers can be transferred to the defense headquarters, where they will directly report to the chief of defense staff.

Additionally, it is a waste of money to retire these trained officers because you appointed their junior because the majority of them have more experience than the junior ones. Thus, I believe that delaying retirement is the best course of action.

Additionally, retired Brigadier General Peter Aro stated that keeping experienced staff would help stabilize command structures during ongoing operations and that the policy was a legitimate short-term emergency reaction.

The Army must improve welfare and offer additional financial incentives, he said, even though the extension’s voluntary character was praiseworthy.

“Retaining seasoned officers and soldiers will help stabilize command, preserve operational experience, and prevent leadership gaps given the scale of insecurity and the shortage of experienced personnel,” Aro said. That aspect of the policy is praiseworthy as officers are required to demonstrate voluntary interest.

However, there must be appropriate welfare and financial incentives because they will not be able to advance in their careers or receive promotions. A higher wage and benefit package based on seniority and the extra years they must serve should be offered to those who have used up all of their opportunities for advancement, age restrictions, or service years. Many might turn down the offer in the absence of such rewards.

In addition, he urged the military to eliminate the “silent dichotomy” between regular officers and short-service entrants and advocated for aggressive recruitment, expedited training, better welfare, and reforms to solve manpower shortages.

Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi (retd.), another retired commander, supported the suspension as well, characterizing it as a sensible measure in a crucial security scenario.

He said that continuing to serve the country after a typical retirement should be viewed as a pleasure and a chance to do so.

This system is well-structured. “I am confident that the leadership will make any necessary changes to the terms and conditions of service,” he stated.

Adewinbi insisted that the current institutions would minimize confusion, dismissing worries that officers who failed promotion exams could find it difficult to serve under junior commanders.

The policy was also applauded by retired Brigadier General George Emdin, who urged the military to abandon the custom of retiring commanders when their classmates become service heads, claiming that this approach deprives the military of important knowledge.

He was against keeping cops who consistently failed promotion tests, nevertheless.

He continued, “The work is dangerous; their welfare should be top-notch.”

The Senate has made it clear that it has not yet received any official petitions against the most recent list of ambassadorial nominees.

While there have been public complaints about the nominees, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu clarified in an interview with Sunday Punch that the Senate can only take action on written petitions that are received through the appropriate channels.

He mentioned that the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has been tasked with reviewing the screening procedure and providing a report within a week.

We have not yet received a petition opposing any nomination. I only read the list on Thursday. We anticipate that the committee would forward any petition to the Senate, Adaramodu stated.

Adaramodu underlined that the nominees’ screening by the committee is merely the initial stage of the procedure. The entire Senate will have the chance to interrogate each nominee following the committee’s review before making a final decision.

He went on to say that the Senate still has the authority to reject any nominee who, in light of the committee’s conclusions, is judged unsuited for the position.

“The committee will present its report to plenary following the screening, and the entire Senate will then review the report.” The screening of nominees is not final at the committee level. He clarified that the Senate, the larger chamber, has the authority to accept, reject, or change the committee’s conclusions.

Adaramodu reaffirmed that the Senate would take immediate action in response to any legitimate accusations or petitions made against any nominee.

“Upholding, rejecting, or sustaining the committee on foreign affairs’ report is the responsibility of the committee of the whole, led by the Senate President as chairman,” he said.

All of the governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent re-engineering of the national security architecture, pointing out that the government’s commitment to protect citizens’ lives and property cannot be compromised.

The governors convened in Lagos for a two-day strategic discussion under the auspices of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) to examine various issues impacting the country’s situation.

The gathering was hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Eko Hotels & Suites on Victoria Island.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Forum—led by Senator Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State—reiterated its faith in Nigeria’s future as a cohesive, peaceful, and successful nation in a communiqué.

During the meeting, Forum members reviewed the nation’s security situation and thanked President Tinubu for what they described as “improved coordination” between federal, state, and local security structures, as well as for the bravery and sacrifices made by security agencies and community volunteers.

The APC Governors praised the President’s management of security issues, emphasizing that the President’s re-engineering of the nation’s security architecture was necessary.

Gov. Uzodimma read the communiqué and stated that the PGF decided to support the President’s efforts by strengthening intelligence collection, community-based security initiatives, conflict-prevention mechanisms, and assistance for victims of disasters and violence.

“The Forum reviewed the security situation across the country and expressed appreciation for the courage and sacrifices of security agencies and community volunteers, as well as improved coordination between federal, state, and local security structures,” the communiqué states. We therefore decided to make every member state’s local security architecture stronger.

“The Forum applauded Mr. President for continuing to reengineer the nation’s security architecture. Governors reaffirmed that the government’s duty to protect people and property cannot be compromised. In addition to providing assistance to victims of violence and natural disasters, we decided to keep bolstering community-based security programs, intelligence collection, and conflict-prevention techniques.

PGF reviewed the nation’s political, economic, and social landscape and noted that reforms should prioritize enhancing lives, upholding people’ dignity, and increasing possibilities for Nigerians.

The Forum praised the President for his Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to stabilize the economy and establish the groundwork for long-term growth.

“The Forum reviewed the state of the economy and the cost-of-living pressures being experienced by citizens, acknowledging the temporary burdens that accompany necessary macro-economic reforms,” Uzodimma stated. In addition to expressing profound gratitude for the sacrifices being made in the shared goal of a more robust and inclusive economy, governors recognized Nigerians’ tenacity and tolerance.

“We decided to step up state-level initiatives in sectors like food production and distribution, assistance for small and medium-sized businesses, youth employment, social protection for the most vulnerable and impoverished, and targeted relief for low-income households and workers.

“To ensure that things continue to improve, that no group is left behind, and that the gains of reforms continue to translate into visible improvements in the quality of life of the people, the Progressive Governors are committed to working closely with Federal institutions and local governments.”

Infrastructure, urban regeneration, and rural development are crucial for boosting productivity, drawing in investment, and raising living standards, according to the Forum.

The governors resolved to strengthen peer-learning and interstate cooperation in these areas and praised Lagos State in particular for its innovative funding models, transportation reforms, and urban renewal.

With an emphasis on access and inclusion for all communities, the PGF decided to increase investments in roads, housing, public transportation, water and sanitation, digital connectivity, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

It emphasized the importance of designing and delivering infrastructure in a way that is socially equitable, environmentally conscious, and sensitive to the needs of women, youth, people with disabilities, and other frequently marginalized groups.

“The Forum reaffirmed that delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda at the grassroots level requires effective local governance,” stated Uzodimma. In accordance with the Constitution and in collaboration with pertinent stakeholders, governors decided to intensify reforms intended to enhance accountability, transparency, and service delivery in local government administration.

We decided to increase the number of venues for citizen participation, such as town hall meetings, consultations with religious and traditional leaders, civil society, labor, professional associations, youth, and women’s organizations. The Forum reaffirmed that maintaining democratic legitimacy and fostering trust depend on listening to the public, clearly communicating government policies, and modifying implementation tactics in response to input.

The Forum also reaffirmed its steadfast support for the APC and praised the party’s leadership for its initiatives to improve inclusivity, discipline, internal democracy, and reconciliation.

The Governors promised to keep the party stable while making sure the APC remained committed to fulfilling its mandate.

The Forum reiterated its unwavering support for the policies of APC governments at all levels and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. PGF emphasized that Progressive Governors view themselves as trustees of the mandate of the people and as a group of leaders who work together to translate Nigerians’ ambitions into real social and economic results throughout the federation.

The Forum emphasized the value of interfaith harmony, interethnic understanding, and societal cohesion. It urged leaders to use their platforms and voices to promote harmony, moderation, and respect while denouncing crime and hate speech in all of its manifestations.

President Bola Tinubu has been urged by former Senate Leader Ali Ndume to remove the list of ambassadorial nominations that were recently submitted to the Senate for review and confirmation.

According to reports, Ndume filed the appeal on Thursday in Abuja, claiming worries that the list goes against Nigeria’s Constitution’s Federal Character principle.

Ndume, speaking on behalf of Borno South, contended that the diversity mandated by Section 14(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires that the makeup of governmental organizations reflect the nation’s federal character, is not reflected in the current nominations for ambassador.

Ndume claims that the list displays an uneven distribution of nominations, with some states having more than one representative while others are excluded.

He noted that Gombe State had no representation at all, the Northeast, where Ndume is from, had just seven nominees, and states like the Southwest had fifteen.

Ndume also brought attention to the passing of Yobe State’s sole nominee, Senator Adamu Garba Talba, who died in July. He claimed that this made the list even more unfair and left the state unrepresented in the nominations.

Ndume emphasized that the ambassadorial list issue might weaken national cohesion and exacerbate ethnic tensions in addition to being a question of public perception. In the interest of justice and diversity, he asked President Tinubu to reevaluate the nominees.

“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in a way that reflects the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies,” he stated.

“I respectfully request that President Tinubu remove this list. He should steer clear of mistakes that could jeopardize national unity and foster ethnic mistrust at this crucial juncture in his leadership.

“I am aware that he is a multicultural leader who gets along with all groups and stakeholders in the nation.

“He should remove that list and submit a new list of candidates who will be in line with the Federal Character Principle of the Constitution, which states that the government’s operations and structure must reflect Nigeria’s various states and peoples.”

During a coordinated expedition inside Orokam Forest, a border zone between Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State, troops from the Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force, Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch, released 14 kidnapped individuals.

Zagazola Makama was briefed by security sources that the operation was conducted on Friday at approximately 1:30 p.m. after locals provided actionable intelligence that indicated the location of a suspected kidnappers’ camp concealed within the forest.

One of the sources claims that troops stationed in Udenu LGA went straight to the scene with Neighbourhood Watch members.

The outlaws opened fire on the troops as they got closer to the hideout. The kidnappers were forced to flee in confusion and abandon the abducted victims as a result of the joint team’s heavy fire response, according to the source.

All 14 of the victims who were kidnapped over the weekend while coming from a funeral were safely and unharmedly recovered, according to the sources.

According to preliminary results, the kidnapped people were from two distinct communities: Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, Benue State, and Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA, Enugu State.

Later, the casualties were turned over to the Udenu Division Divisional Police Officer so they could be reunited with their relatives right away.

The source claims that during the shootout, troops shot 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and returned to their base at approximately 7:21 p.m. without reporting any casualties.

In order to stop criminal gangs from regrouping or working freely, security agents have now increased monitoring throughout the area, according to the sources.

Lt. General Tukur Buratai (rtd), a former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to the Benin Republic, has vehemently refuted claims that he financed terrorists, calling them wholly false and at odds with his principles.

In a statement signed by Brig. General Sani Kukasheka Usman, a former Army spokesperson, Buratai made this claim on Saturday in reaction to an online exposé that accused him and other notable people of having ties to terrorism financing.

The statement called the allegations “false, unfounded, mischievous” and said they were a part of a smear effort meant to damage Buratai’s reputation. It emphasized that he had never been questioned, looked into, or connected to the funding of terrorism during his illustrious military career.

“He has never been questioned, investigated, indicted, or associated with any such matter by any official body or authority at any point in his distinguished career,” the statement states.

“He has never been connected in any way to the financing of terrorism by any security institution, intelligence agency, court, diplomatic mission, oversight mechanism, or administrative body.”

The former Army chief refuted the accusations, stating that they were based only on Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi’s (rtd) unconfirmed personal assertions in the Sahara Reporters piece. The publishing, according to him, was a “clear misrepresentation borne out of malice” with no legal or factual foundation.

Buratai’s statement also denounced the online magazine for its repeated attempts over the years to damage his reputation, all of which were unsuccessful because of his long-standing, open, and honorable service to Nigeria.

The statement stated, “His record remains forthright, transparent, and distinguished by honorable service to the nation, which is why every attempt has failed.”

Buratai had served the nation with “honour, courage, and steadfast commitment” to combating terrorism for more than 40 years, according to the statement. It emphasized his leadership in the Nigerian Army’s battle against ISWAP and Boko Haram, which resulted in the resettlement of displaced Nigerians, the recovery of territory, the restoration of civil administration, and the considerable degradation of these terrorist organizations.

The statement continued, “It defies logic and conscience to suggest that the same person who led decisive actions against terrorism would in any way be associated with the very elements he spent his career confronting.”

Major General Ali-Keffi (rtd) and Sahara Reporters were urged by Buratai’s legal team to promptly withdraw the accusations and apologize in public. The statement cautioned that Buratai would be forced to take legal action to defend his name if he didn’t comply.

“If this isn’t done, we will have no choice but to take appropriate legal action to safeguard his reputation and seek compensation for this malicious attack,” the statement stated.