By Okosun Dennis
There are strong indications that over 42 Major Generals may be retired from the Nigerian Army following the resignation of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai as the Chief of Army Staff.
PEOPLE AND POWER gathered that these Generals have served between 35 and 38 years in service and would have left a long time ago if not that the presidency refused to approve their retirement.
Investigations revealed that sometimes last year, about 42 Major Generals had written to President Muhammadu Buhari through the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, to allow them leave the service voluntarily since they have overstayed their welcome and were no longer enjoying the respect of junior officers.
A defence source disclosed that Gen. Olonisakin was hesitant to leave the service hence he refused to be joined among the Generals who wanted to leave as contained in the letter purportedly written to the president.
However, the former CDS, until he was retired on Monday, January 26, 2021, served 42 years and 23 days as against the mandatory 35 years constitutionally required and according to Harmonised Terms And Condition Of Service (HTACOS) for Officers before retirement from active service.
It was gathered that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and other Service Chiefs in the Navy and Airforce, Admiral Ette Ibok Ibas and Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar surpassed the 35 years according to condition of service rule.
As a result, a military source had in October 2020 told our correspondent that no fewer than 42 Army Generals including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai wrote a joint letter to the presidency appealing to allow them proceed on retirement as they were tired, having also completed 35 years.
It was further learnt that the letter was submitted to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, who was not part of those that wanted to exit the service.
Unfortunately, the source revealed, the President allegedly refused to approve citing no particular reason for his action.
However, further probing revealed that the rejection of the letter was connected to the CDS not part of the letter considering that he was the most senior officer in the Nigerian military then.
As a result, the response of the presidency was said to have hit them hard with unfriendly remarks. PEOPLE AND POWER gathered that the presidency while responding to their letter said, “if you people decided to proceed on retirement, know that you will not be entitled to gratuity and pension.”
The rather disturbed source explained, “We found it very funny. Is it our fault to serve our country in various capacities? We have done our best and the way things are panning out, it is insulting we are not accorded any respect any more by Junior officers. They don’t respect us any longer. Majority of them think we are blocking their chances and I don’t blame them for their actions,” he reiterated.
Particularly, Gen. Buratai who was in charge of the Army since 2015 until Monday, served 40 years and 23 days having been enlisted into the service on January 3, 1981, according to Army Seniority Roll.
However, with the appointment of Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor as the CDS and considering he is 34 Regular Course in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), and the appointment of Maj. Gen. Attahiru as the COAS, the coast has become clearer that so many senior officers especially Major Generals and few Brigadier Generals would exit the service as source says letters have began flying following the appointment of junior officers.
With Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai officially handing over to his successor, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru at the Army Headquarters today, the wind of massive retirement of senior officers in the Nigerian Armed Forces would have begun.
The former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas would also, officially hand over to the newly appointed successor, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo on Friday, January 29, 2021, at the New Conference Hall, Naval Headquarters, Abuja by 2:30pm.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/mass-retirement-to-hit-senior-army-officers-as-over-42-generals-may-go/
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