Senator Orji Kalu Warns Tinubu Against Appointing Junior Officers as Service Chiefs

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against the recurring practice of overlooking senior military officers and appointing their juniors as service chiefs.

Kalu issued the warning on Thursday while contributing to a debate on the Bill for an Act to Repeal the Armed Forces Act and Re-enact a Modern, Constitutionally Compliant and Operationally Responsive Legal Framework for the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2025.

The former Abia State governor directed his comments at President Tinubu in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief, expressing concern over what he described as a “demoralizing and wasteful” pattern in the appointment of top military officers.

According to him, appointing junior officers as Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, or Chief of Air Staff while their seniors remain in active service undermines morale and wastes the nation’s investment in the training of those prematurely retired.

He said, “Presidents should stop appointing officers for these top military positions above their seniors who are still in service. For instance, when you appoint a Course 41 officer as a service chief while officers from Course 39 or 40 are still in service, all the seniors are forced to resign prematurely. Nobody is paying attention to the huge financial resources invested in their training.”

Kalu’s remarks were, however, interrupted by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session. Jibrin cautioned lawmakers to tread carefully on the issue, noting that military appointments are “sensitive matters rooted in tradition.”

The bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, later passed its second reading and was referred to the Senate Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force for further consideration.

The committees are expected to present their reports within four weeks.