There is a storm brewing in the Nigerian military, threatening to fracture the unity binding its officers together, DAILY NIGERIAN authoritatively gathered.
As the Nigerian military grapples with internal and external threats—from insurgencies in the North East to banditry in the North West, experts say unity and operational capacity are more important than ever.
The controversial review of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service, HTACOS 2024, quietly advanced by the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, and the Service Chiefs, is poised to undermine discipline and morale within the officers corp.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that under this review, Regular Course, RC officers would be promoted after five years, while Direct Regular Course, DRC officers would remain on the same rank for seven years, ultimately retiring as Brigadier Generals, despite serving in the same military and facing the same dangers.
While the Regular Course training takes 5 years in the NDA, the Direct Regular Course officers first attain a university degree before undergoing a 9 to 12 months military training.
The recent shift in the promotion policy, which now differentiates between Regular Course and Direct Regular Course officers, is a departure from a long-standing tradition of equal treatment for all commissioned officers.
Currently, both RC and DRC officers are promoted based on merit, performance, and leadership, fostering a sense of unity and collaboration that is vital for operational effectiveness.
Military experts say that this approach recognise that all officers, regardless of their entry route, contributed to the military’s mission and that the military’s strength lay in its diversity of skills and experiences.
However, the introduction of a discriminatory policy that promotes RC officers every five years while holding DRC officers back for seven years raises serious concerns about the motivations behind this change.
“The shift appears to stem from a perception of elitism within military leadership, where NDA graduates are viewed as superior. This belief not only undermines the invaluable contributions made by DRC officers, who are often skilled professionals in fields such as medicine, law, education and engineering but also disregards the collaborative spirit that has long been a hallmark of military service,” said an expert who prefers anonymity.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the 2024 HTACOS review reinforces division among the officers, disregarding the fundamental equality enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution. Section 17(3) guarantees that all citizens, irrespective of background, should be treated equally and have fair access to opportunities.
“Elevating one set of officers over another based solely on their entry route undermines this principle and discredits the valuable contributions of DRC officers. Many DRC officers not only apply their specialised knowledge but also take on infantry and combat roles in volatile operations in the North East and North West, where they face the same dangers as their RC counterparts. Yet, their sacrifices are overlooked because of their mode of entry.
“More troubling is the covert nature in which this review is being pushed forward, raising significant concerns about transparency and legitimacy. Typically, HTACOS reviews are preceded by extensive consultations with all services and formations ensuring that all stakeholders are involved. In this case, however, there has been no transparency and no reason has been given for its sudden introduction.
“This lack of openness only deepens the sense of unease surrounding the policy and raises legitimate concerns about the motives behind it. If implemented could set a dangerous precedent. It contradicts the established principles of merit-based promotion that the military has long upheld, where officers advance based on performance, leadership, and service time, not the route through which they were commissioned. By introducing this discriminatory policy, the Nigerian military risks institutionalising an unnecessary animosity that could deeply fracture the officer corps.
“This issue goes beyond promotion timelines; it is about creating a class system within the armed forces. Like other leading global militaries, Nigeria should base promotions on merit and contributions, not on an officer’s commissioning path. Even in world class military academies like Sandhurst (UK), West Point (USA), and the Indian Military Academy, officers are promoted based on their performance and leadership, not by how they entered the service. Once commissioned, they serve as equals. Nigeria’s military should not change from this model,” said the source.
Speaking on the consequences of the implementation of the policy, another security expert said the implications of the policy are far-reaching. “Beyond intensifying resentment among DRC officers, it threatens the unity and discipline of the entire military,” he said.
“Military cohesion relies on mutual respect, when one group is unfairly disadvantaged, that respect erodes. DRC officers, already disillusioned by their perceived second-class status, will become further demoralised. Meanwhile, RC officers may develop an unhealthy sense of superiority, fostering an environment of entitlement. These internal divisions will weaken the military’s effectiveness, particularly in the current security climate.
“Reports from the field indicate that DRC officers are already stepping into combat roles in regions like the North East and North West, often taking on infantry duties. The consequences of this review extend far beyond individual careers. it endangers the overall security of Nigeria. As the military faces increasing challenges, the last thing it needs is an internal divide driven by elitism. The Service Chiefs and CDS may feel emboldened to push this review through, but the long-term damage could be catastrophic. Dividing the Military at such a critical juncture seriously threatens national security.”
The experts therefore called on President Bola Tinubu, the defence minister and National Security Adviser to urgently intervene to halt the approval of this policy.
Meanwhile, attempts to get the reaction of the defence spokesman, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to our correspondent’s inquiry on the matter.
