EXCLUSIVE(SAHARA REPORTERS): Nigerian Army Soldiers Petition Tinubu, NASS Over 'Forced Retention' Amid Discharge Embargo

A number of active-duty personnel within the Nigerian Army have formally lodged a petition with President Bola Tinubu, leaders of the National Assembly, and top defence officials. Their appeal highlights an alleged unofficial ban on voluntary discharge from military service, asserting that the Army is unlawfully keeping personnel who have applied to leave the force.

SaharaReporters exclusively obtained the petition on Wednesday, revealing that the soldiers are urging President Tinubu, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to mandate an immediate inquiry into what they describe as prolonged delays and outright refusal to process voluntary discharge applications from eligible service members. The document, titled "Urgent Petition for Investigation into the Alleged Unlawful Restriction, Delay and Withholding of Voluntary Discharge of Nigerian Army Personnel," was also forwarded to key figures including the President of the Senate, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the House Committee on Army, the Minister of Defence, and the Chief of Defence Staff.

According to the petitioners, these alleged processing delays began after Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu assumed office as Chief of Army Staff on October 30, 2025. They claim that since his appointment, "an unofficial restriction appears to have been placed on the processing and release of voluntary discharge applications." This situation, they explain, has left numerous personnel in limbo, despite having formally applied to exit military service through established administrative channels, with their applications allegedly ignored or intentionally stalled.

The petition explicitly states: "It is our grave concern that since the assumption of office of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on 30 October 2025, an unofficial restriction appears to have been placed on the processing and release of voluntary discharge applications, resulting in the continued retention of numerous soldiers whose applications have remained unattended to or deliberately delayed."

The affected soldiers emphasized that their intentions are not to desert or shirk their responsibilities. The petition clarified: "These soldiers are not proceeding on AWOL, absconding from duty, abandoning their responsibilities, or acting against military discipline. They are simply requesting to be discharged from the service through the recognised administrative procedure provided by the Nigerian Armed Forces."

Many of these personnel have dedicated years to service and now seek to pursue legitimate civilian careers and personal goals, the petition noted. The soldiers mentioned plans to advance their education, take up new employment, start businesses, venture into agriculture, relocate, care for elderly parents, and engage in other lawful pursuits outside the military.

They cautioned that the alleged refusal to process discharge requests has led to severe personal and economic repercussions for those affected. The petition detailed these impacts, including: "Loss of civil career and employment opportunities, loss of academic admissions, financial hardship due to uncertainty over their discharge status, emotional distress among personnel and their families, and missed opportunities that cannot be recovered."

While acknowledging that members of the Armed Forces are bound by military regulations, the petitioners argued that these rules must be applied fairly and in accordance with the law. They referenced Sections 34 and 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which safeguard human dignity and personal liberty, alongside the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for the Armed Forces.

The soldiers contended that the Army's need to maintain operational readiness should not indefinitely prevent qualified personnel from voluntarily leaving service, especially as the Nigerian Army consistently recruits new personnel through regular enlistment exercises. "Therefore, the argument of manpower shortage cannot reasonably justify an indefinite restriction on voluntary discharge," the petition asserted.

Furthermore, the soldiers warned that compelling unwilling personnel to remain in service could negatively impact morale and operational effectiveness. "The continued retention of soldiers who have already made a personal and professional decision to leave the service may also create a negative effect on morale, commitment, discipline and operational efficiency, as personnel who feel trapped in a system may struggle to maintain the required psychological readiness expected of military professionals," the petitioners stated.

They implored President Tinubu to order an immediate investigation into the alleged embargo and called on the National Assembly to summon the Chief of Army Staff to explain the reported delays. Specifically, their demands include: "That all pending voluntary discharge applications be reviewed immediately and all personnel who have fulfilled the requirements be released without further unnecessary delay." They also requested the Army establish a clear timeline for future discharge applications and ensure no soldier who has followed administrative procedures is indefinitely retained without lawful cause.

"The Nigerian Army is an institution founded on discipline, justice, fairness and professionalism. Respecting lawful administrative processes while protecting the welfare and legitimate rights of its personnel strengthens the institution rather than weakening it," the petition concluded. The soldiers appealed to the President and other relevant authorities for urgent intervention to ensure "justice, fairness and due process prevail in this matter."