Reps Seeks to raise Retirement Age and Service Years of Military Personnel

House of Representatives is discussing a bill seeking to raise the retirement age and service years of military personnel.

The bill sponsored by Honorable Jonathan Gaza, seeks to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 years, as well as service years from 35 years to 40 years.

The bill, which was tabled during the Thursday plenary of the house, wants section 30 of the principal act amended, so as to protect senior military officers compelled to retire due to the appointments of new service chiefs.

Such senior officers, according to the bill, could be retained as technical consultants by the armed forces.

The bill after deliberation was passed for the second reading.

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“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Principal Act, the age of retirement for members of the Armed Forces shall be 40 years of Service or 65 years of age whichever comes first,” the proposed amendment reads.

The bill is also seeking to protect senior military officers who are forced to resign due to the appointment of service chiefs.

Also, if the bill is passed into law, officers who are forced to retire to the appointment of service chiefs are to be employed as service consultants.

“As from the commencement of this Bill, any Senior Serving Member of the Armed Forces of the Federation that is required to retire compulsorily by reason only that an officer of the same rank or a subordinate rank is appointed by the President of the Federal Republic, as the Chief of Defence Staff, or Chief of Army Staff, or Chief of the Naval Staff or Chief of the Air Staff, shall be engaged by the Chief of Defense Staff as Senior technical consultants for the training of officers of the Armed Forces of the Federation in the Nigerian Defence College, Armed Forces Staff College or any other like institution,” proposed section 18A of the bill reads.

The bill scaled and was referred to the House Committee on Defence for further legislative action.