The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika made the announcement at the commissioning of the Nigerian Army Transformation and Innovation Centre in Abuja.
Lieutenant General Ihejirika noted that the review is necessary for the army to save some experience and resources, which are being lost on the basis of regular retirement.
He enjoined the officers to be up and doing in the discharge of their duties because Nigerians look up to them for their security.
Speaking on the centre that was being commissioned, the Chief of Army Staff stated that the centre will serve as a think-tank for the Nigerian army security strategies.
The Army Transformation and Innovation Centre is a place designed to assist the army to strategize on how to combat contemporary challenges using latest innovations and strategy.
The army is hoping to engage retired officers in the centre and believes that if the retirement age of officers is increased, it will offer the force more experiences.
Explaining the reason the Nigerian Army must harness the resources in its old officers, the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation; Major General Ibrahim Sani argued that judges in Nigeria have a mandatory 70 years retirement age and until recently, university lecturers have a similar retirement age.
The minimum age for enlisting into the Nigerian Armed Forces is put at 18 years old for voluntary service and at 55 years or after putting in 35 years of service according to the Federal Civil Service; public servants are expected to retire.
However, analysts view the plan for an upward review of the retirement age for the armed forces to 70 as needless.
In other countries, such as the United States, military officers are expected to put a minimum of 20 years of service and a maximum of 30 years, according to the department of defense directive. An officer can be enlisted in the force at the age of 17.
In Britain, officers are enlisted into the force at the age of 16 and are expected to put in at least 18 years of service.
In Africa, Ghana enlists officers at the age of 18 and retires officers at 50 years while in South Africa, officers stay in active service until they are 60 years and could be enlisted at the age of 18.
I feel this is a good move from nigeria army! they are so powerful that they can retire at even 80 years. Thanks and will support them Retirement Letters
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