Nigerian Army officers who joined the Armed Forces after university education face a looming mass exodus following the proposed Revised Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024, which is awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s approval.
Aggrieved officers warn that if the document is approved, it will frustrate them out of service due to prolonged stays on ranks.
The document, reviewed by LEADERSHIP, reveals that military authorities are contemplating a policy change that would extend the promotion duration for Direct Short Service (DSS) officers, who join as professionals, while leaving the promotion timeline unchanged for regular service officers commissioned through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Currently, junior regular service officers spend five years on a rank, while Department of State Services’ officers spend seven years.
implementing a discriminatory policy may expose the armed forces to legal challenges and ethical scrutiny, violating principles of equality and fairness. They cited the United States and British militaries, which use standardised, merit-based promotion systems, as models for fair and effective promotion practices.
“It is crucial for the Nigerian armed forces to adopt international best practices to maintain a professional, motivated, and cohesive military force,” they added.