By SUNTV Global Channel News Desk
ABUJA, Nigeria – Some serving personnel of the Nigerian Army have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, and other top defence authorities over what they described as an alleged unofficial restriction on voluntary discharge from military service.
According to the petition, the affected soldiers claim that applications submitted through the approved administrative process have remained unprocessed for several months, leaving many personnel unable to exit the service despite meeting the required conditions.
The petition, titled “Urgent Petition for Investigation into the Alleged Unlawful Restriction, Delay and Withholding of Voluntary Discharge of Nigerian Army Personnel,” was also addressed to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the leadership of the National Assembly’s Army Committees.
The petitioners alleged that the delays began after the appointment of the current Chief of Army Staff in October 2025, claiming that an unofficial embargo has slowed or halted the processing of voluntary discharge requests.
The soldiers stressed that they are not attempting to abandon their duties or violate military regulations. Rather, they said they are seeking lawful release from service through the established procedures of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
According to the petition, many of the affected personnel intend to pursue higher education, secure civilian employment, establish businesses, engage in agriculture, relocate, or care for ageing parents and family members.
They argued that the continued delay has resulted in missed employment opportunities, loss of academic admissions, financial hardship, and emotional distress for both the soldiers and their families.
The petition further stated that while the military has a responsibility to maintain discipline and operational readiness, eligible personnel should not be prevented indefinitely from leaving service after fulfilling the required conditions.
The petitioners also questioned the argument that manpower shortages justify the alleged delays, noting that the Nigerian Army continues to recruit new personnel through regular enlistment exercises.
They warned that retaining soldiers who no longer wish to remain in service could negatively affect morale, discipline, commitment, and operational effectiveness.
Among their demands, the soldiers urged President Tinubu to order an immediate investigation into the alleged delays, direct the review of all pending discharge applications, and ensure that qualified personnel are released without unnecessary delay.
They also called for a transparent timeline for processing future discharge requests to promote fairness and accountability.
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian Army had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition.
Editor’s Note: This report is based on allegations contained in a petition submitted by the affected military personnel. SUNTV Global Channel will publish any official response from the Nigerian Army or relevant authorities as it becomes available.
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