Over 100 military generals set for retirement after appointment of new Service Chiefs
By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
With the appointment of new service chiefs from the armed forces by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, not less than 100 senior military officers who are senior to the newly appointed service chiefs are to proceed on compulsory retirement.
The compulsory retirement is in line with military tradition where top officers exit the service if their junior becomes appointed as a service chief.
The top officers in the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Nigerian Navy that are set to retire and exit the service include Generals, Major-Generals, Brigadier-Generals, Air Vice Marshals, Real Admirals, and Admirals who are senior in service to the new service chiefs.
Also in line with military tradition, many officers would be promoted to their next rank to fill the vacancies that would be created by the retiring generals as part of the reorganisation of the services by the new service chiefs.
In line with precedence, the new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen. Christopher Musa will adorn a full four-star General rank, while the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen, Taoreed Lagbaja will be decorated with the three-star rank of Lieutenant General, and Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla with take up the Air Marshal rank.
According to tradition, the top military officers, particularly, members of Course 37, Course 38, and Course 39 would likely leave the service because the new CDS is a member of 38 Regular Course, the COAS, the CNS, and the CAS are members of 39 Regular Course.
The retirement is happening six months after 24 Major Generals and 38 Brigadier Generals retired in December 2022 after serving the nation for 35 years.
According to the Punch, below are some of the names of senior brass speculated to retire alongside the former service chiefs.
*The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj Gen Ibrahim Yusuf
*The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Murtala Bashir.
*The Chief Of Policy and Plans, HQ NAF, Air Vice Marshal IG Lubo.
*The Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Air Vice Marshal Oluwarotimi Tuwase, amongst others.
