On Wednesday, June 10 2026, the House of Representatives called for an urgent review and discontinuation of the automatic merger of service years for formerly enlisted personnel commissioned as officers in a major move aimed at boosting military morale, retaining experienced personnel, and ensuring legal fairness.
The motion, introduced by Hon. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa, highlights critical policy discrepancies affecting officers commissioned through the Short Service Combatant Commission (SSCC), Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC), and Direct Regular Commission (DRC).
Under the current Nigerian Army policy, years served as enlisted soldiers, ratings, or airmen—including periods spent pursuing university degrees or awaiting commissioning—are automatically added to their total service years as officers. The House warns that this automatic addition prematurely forces highly trained and experienced officers into retirement.
Violations of Regulations and Contractual Fairness
The House noted that the automatic merger policy directly contradicts the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2017 (Revised). HTACOS explicitly defines an officer’s military service as an unbroken period starting from the date of commission to the date of retirement.
Furthermore, the policy is seen as a violation of the Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation and basic principles of contractual fairness protected under Sections 7 and 91 of the Labour Act.
“This automatic policy is discriminatory and deeply undermines morale and cohesion within the officer corps,” the motion states. “It creates unnecessary manpower gaps, spikes recruitment costs, and drastically erodes institutional memory at a time when the nation needs experienced military minds the most.”
To address these systemic issues, the House of Representatives has resolved to:
Urge the Nigerian Army Council to discontinue the automatic merger of service years. Instead, merging previous enlisted service should be strictly optional, taking effect only upon an officer’s written request for pension computation purposes.
Urge the Armed Forces Council to standardize service reckonability across the Army, Navy, and Air Force to ensure fairness and doctrinal uniformity.
Urge the Chief of Army Staff to immediately issue transitional guidelines and educate the ranks to prevent misinterpretation and smooth over the policy shift.
Urge the Nigerian Army Council to conduct administrative reviews to protect the military from potential lawsuits stemming from the retroactive application of the old policy.
Mandate the House Committee on the Army to thoroughly investigate and oversee the protection of officers’ rights, career progression, and welfare, with a directive to report back within four weeks.
This legislative intervention marks a decisive step toward aligning Nigerian military administrative procedures with international best practices and safeguarding the career paths of the nation’s defenders.
