The Nigerian Army is facing a potential mass exodus of officers following the proposed Revised Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024, currently awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s approval according to Sahara Reporters.
Aggrieved officers, particularly those who joined the Armed Forces after university education through the Direct Short Service (DSS) program, warn that the new conditions will prolong their time on each rank, effectively pushing them out of service.
The proposed HTACOS, reviewed by LEADERSHIP, suggests extending the promotion duration for DSS officers while maintaining the existing timeline for regular service officers commissioned through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Under the current policy, junior regular service officers spend five years on a rank, whereas DSS officers spend seven years. The new policy stipulates that DSS officers would face even longer waits for promotion compared to their NDA counterparts.
Chapter 17 of the HTACOS outlines the promotion requirements, including automatic promotion from Cadet to Lt/SLt/Fg Offr after five years, barring disciplinary issues. However, from Lt/SLt/Fg Offr to Capt/Lt(NN)/Flt Lt, DSS officers will face a seven-year wait compared to five years for regular officers. Similarly, promotions from Capt/Lt(NN)/Flt Lt to Maj/Lt Cdr/Sqn Ldr will take six years for DSS officers versus five years for regular officers.
Senior officers are also affected, with promotion to Lt Col/Cdr/Wg Cdr requiring six years for DSS officers and five for regular officers at the rank of Maj/Lt Cdr/Sqn Ldr. This policy, officers argue, undermines morale, unity, and operational effectiveness, as it devalues the contributions of DSS officers and may deter skilled professionals from joining the military.
Critics argue that the policy discriminates based on commissioning source rather than performance and competence, violating principles of meritocracy. They urge the Nigerian armed forces to adopt international best practices, similar to the merit-based promotion systems used by the U.S. and British militaries, to maintain a professional, motivated, and cohesive force….Seē_ Morē