Nigerian army officers reject offer to convert disengagement into voluntary retirement
Nigerian army officers on compulsory retirement in 2016 have rejected an offer to convert their disenlistment into voluntary retirement.
One of them, Colonel Danladi Hassan, who appeared before the House of Representatives Public Petitions Committee, insisted that the army obey the order of the Court of Appeals to reintegrate with all the benefits.
Hassan, Col. Mohammed Suleiman, Col. Chidi Ukoha, Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed and others were forced into retirement in 2016.
The officers involved were nine major generals, 11 brigadier generals, seven colonels and 11 lieutenant colonels.
In 2019, the National Labor Court (NIC) sitting in Abuja ordered the Nigerian Army to reabsorb Colonel Hassan. The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
But the ruling has yet to be complied with, prompting officers to ask the Green Chamber of the National Assembly to look into the matter.
Committee Chairman Jerry Alagbaoso then wrote to the military demanding their appearance before lawmakers.
At its last sitting, the Chamber asked the authorities to put their position in writing and present it when the hearing resumed.
The army responded with a letter, with reference QG DLS/A/GI/300/56 dated October 7, 2022, addressed to Alagbaoso. The presentation was made by Major P. C. Obinyan.
The army recommended that the applicant retain his effective rank of colonel and offered a gratuity, a pension, a certificate of military service and a retired officer's identity card.
"The petitioner's additional request for reinstatement and payment of salaries and allowances for the period he did not work is difficult due to the peculiarity of military service, under the harmonized conditions of service of the officer 2021, particularly Chapter 1, paragraph 01.04 (I).
"Bringing the petitioner into service as a colonel when his cadets are already in the rank of general will affect military discipline as he will not be 100% loyal to his superiors who were his cadets; thus having a negative effect on military command and control,” the memo reads in part.
The Army has stated that in the interests of justice, the recommendation is that the petitioner write to the Army Board to convert his mandatory retirement to voluntary retirement.
Responding to the session of representatives, Colonel Hassan maintained his position that the army is obeying the current judgment of the Court of Appeals which ordered the reinstatement.
The committee advised Hassan to study the document submitted by the army authorities and decide how to proceed.
In 2020, DAILY POST released the full list of 38 officers forcibly disengaged one year after President Muhammadu Buhari took office.
Nigerian army officers on compulsory retirement in 2016 have rejected an offer to convert their disenlistment into voluntary retirement.
One of them, Colonel Danladi Hassan, who appeared before the House of Representatives Public Petitions Committee, insisted that the army obey the order of the Court of Appeals to reintegrate with all the benefits.
Hassan, Col. Mohammed Suleiman, Col. Chidi Ukoha, Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed and others were forced into retirement in 2016.
The officers involved were nine major generals, 11 brigadier generals, seven colonels and 11 lieutenant colonels.
In 2019, the National Labor Court (NIC) sitting in Abuja ordered the Nigerian Army to reabsorb Colonel Hassan. The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
But the ruling has yet to be complied with, prompting officers to ask the Green Chamber of the National Assembly to look into the matter.
Committee Chairman Jerry Alagbaoso then wrote to the military demanding their appearance before lawmakers.
At its last sitting, the Chamber asked the authorities to put their position in writing and present it when the hearing resumed.
The army responded with a letter, with reference QG DLS/A/GI/300/56 dated October 7, 2022, addressed to Alagbaoso. The presentation was made by Major P. C. Obinyan.
The army recommended that the applicant retain his effective rank of colonel and offered a gratuity, a pension, a certificate of military service and a retired officer's identity card.
"The petitioner's additional request for reinstatement and payment of salaries and allowances for the period he did not work is difficult due to the peculiarity of military service, under the harmonized conditions of service of the officer 2021, particularly Chapter 1, paragraph 01.04 (I).
"Bringing the petitioner into service as a colonel when his cadets are already in the rank of general will affect military discipline as he will not be 100% loyal to his superiors who were his cadets; thus having a negative effect on military command and control,” the memo reads in part.
The Army has stated that in the interests of justice, the recommendation is that the petitioner write to the Army Board to convert his mandatory retirement to voluntary retirement.
Responding to the session of representatives, Colonel Hassan maintained his position that the army is obeying the current judgment of the Court of Appeals which ordered the reinstatement.
The committee advised Hassan to study the document submitted by the army authorities and decide how to proceed.
In 2020, DAILY POST released the full list of 38 officers forcibly disengaged one year after President Muhammadu Buhari took office.
What's Your Reaction?
