Tension is reportedly mounting within Nigeria’s military as hundreds of officers express concern over delayed promotions linked to provisions in the revised Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024, approved by Bola Tinubu.
At the centre of the concerns is a requirement that officers must complete the Senior Staff Course before promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or its equivalent. While the policy aims to strengthen leadership capacity, affected personnel argue that limited training slots at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College have created significant bottlenecks.
Sources indicate that officers may wait up to two years for placement, with the Nigerian Air Force reportedly the most affected, as hundreds await fewer than 100 annual slots.
Many officers say the delays are impacting morale, career progression, and retention, with some considering early retirement. Analysts warn this could affect operational effectiveness if not addressed.
However, the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, clarified that Staff College attendance has always been a requirement for promotion and not a new provision. He added that the military continues to review capacity and ensure structured career progression based on seniority.
Calls are growing for authorities to expand training capacity or introduce interim measures to prevent career stagnation among qualified officers.
