The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, has read the Riot Act to some army officers aggrieved over their retirement benefits to stop fanning embers of ethnic and religious sentiments or face the consequence.
Reacting to accusations of alleged ethnic cleansing the Army Chief insisted that all the 51 senior army officers who were retired were due according to the relevant provisions in the Harmonised Terms and Condition of Service Officers, 2012 [Revised].
Koleoso explained that the Army Council had approved their retirement from service having attended the mandatory age ceiling for each rank.
‘’The administration of the Nigerian Army as in any other organisation is governed by rules and regulations. All the 51 officers retired have been notified earlier in the year of their retirement and most of them had voluntarily written regarding same.
“Subsequently, the Army Council approved their retirement from service having attended the mandatory age ceiling for each rank.
Retirement from any noble profession, especially from the Army is considered a noble exit which every officer hopes and prays for. To now turn around to give such a milestone exercise a negative flavour is to say the least mischievous,’’ he said.
According to him, the Army will continue to abide with extant rules and regulations and said that anybody who is not contented with the conditions of service should write an appeal to the Chief of Defence Staff.
‘’The Nigerian ARmy under the leadership of Lt. Gen Ihejirika is a united, cohesive and focussed institution and will remain steadfast in the discharge of its national responsibilities in the fight against terrorism,’’ he said.