Over the past four years, more than 1,000 soldiers have resigned from the Nigerian Army, with 1,008 soldiers reportedly leaving their positions between 2020 and 2024. This significant turnover has raised questions about the reasons behind these departures.
In 2023 alone, the Nigerian Army approved the retirement of at least 59 soldiers. In August of the same year, 196 soldiers submitted their resignations. The trend has been consistent over the past few years, with 261 soldiers resigning in 2022, 127 in 2021, and 365 in 2020.
What’s notable is that many of these soldiers had not yet reached the official retirement age or completed their mandatory years of service. Despite this, they chose to leave the military early, citing various reasons.
A recent disengagement letter, dated August 23, and signed by Brigadier O.H. Musa, instructed the 196 soldiers who resigned in 2023 to begin their terminal leave on November 1.
The letter stated, “In accordance with the provisions of References A and B, the COAS [Chief of Army Staff], via Reference C, approved the voluntary discharge of the above-named soldier and 195 others listed in Annex A. The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave with effect from 1 November 2024, while their disengagement date takes effect from 30 November 2024.”
The soldiers’ units have been directed to ensure that all necessary forms are completed and forwarded to the appropriate department by September 6, 2024.
In response to the high number of resignations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, clarified that service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary, not compulsory. He acknowledged that some soldiers resigned for medical reasons, while others left for personal reasons.
“Though I do not have the exact details of yearly retirements or discharge of personnel currently, I can say that officers and soldiers are processed for retirement or discharge by time, based on laid-down criteria and provisions of the terms and conditions of service of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, especially those who have served out their mandatory 35 years of service,” Major General Nwachukwu explained.
He emphasized that resignations in the Nigerian Army are not unusual, as similar patterns are observed in both local and international security and civil organizations.
“A few retire or discharge on medical grounds, while very few seek discharge voluntarily for personal reasons. Retiring or discharging from active service is, therefore, not a strange phenomenon,” he added.