The House of Representatives has moved against the Nigerian Army policy that combines years spent as enlisted personnel with years served as commissioned officers when calculating total service length, saying the practice is causing early retirement and reducing manpower.
The resolution followed a motion by Adamawa lawmaker Zakaria Nyampa, who urged a review of the rule affecting officers commissioned through Short Service Combatant Commission, Direct Short Service Commission and Direct Regular Commission.
Lawmakers said the current arrangement allows time spent as soldiers, as well as periods of university training or waiting for commissioning, to be added to an officer’s service record after appointment.
They argued that this approach conflicts with the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service 2017 (Revised), which defines military service as continuous service from commissioning to retirement.
The House of Representatives also raised concerns that the practice may not align with provisions of the Labour Act, particularly on fair treatment and legitimate expectations in employment terms.
Members further argued that the policy creates inequality within the officer corps, weakens morale, and leads to the early exit of experienced officers, which in turn affects operational strength and increases recruitment pressure on the Nigerian Army.
After debating the motion, lawmakers called for the suspension of automatic merging of service years and recommended that such calculation should only apply where officers request it for pension purposes.
They also urged the Armed Forces Council to harmonise service rules across the Army, Navy and Air Force to ensure uniform standards and fairness in career progression.
The House further asked the military authorities to issue clear transition guidelines to avoid confusion and to prevent disputes arising from changes in policy. It also recommended legal and administrative review to reduce the risk of court cases linked to past application of the rule.
In addition, lawmakers directed the Committee on Army to carry out oversight on the matter and report back within four weeks, focusing on welfare, retirement conditions and career progression of affected officers within the House of Representatives.
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