The retirement of over 100 Major Generals from the Nigerian Armed Forces has raised concerns about the potential consequences for the stability of the military.
Sadeeq Shehu, a former spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, criticized the process of promoting officers to the rank of Major General, stating that having over 300 to choose from creates difficulties for the President in making selections.
He emphasized that retiring such a large number of senior officers could undermine the military’s structure and impact its effectiveness.
Sadeeq also highlighted that the issue lies with the bloated structure of the Nigerian military, as no other country can afford to retire 100 Major Generals without significant impact.
He stated, “Considering the structure of the military hierarchy, the President and Commander in Chief should have a limited number of top-quality officers to choose from. When the President has to select from over 300 Major Generals, it does not assist him in making the best choices.
“The issue does not lie with the President himself. In fact, if we analyse Section 217, which pertains to the appointment of service chiefs, the President has the authority to appoint a Colonel as a service chief if he wishes. He can select whoever he wants. The problem lies with the bloated structure of the Nigerian military. No other country can afford to retire 100 Major Generals without severely impacting their military.”
Article updated 5 days ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
