Mass Retirement Hits Military Under Buhari, Tinubu

Despite escalating insecurity across the country, no fewer than 500 senior military officers have been forced into early retirement under the administrations of former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu.

The affected officers, drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, include Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Rear Admirals, and Air Vice Marshals. The mass retirement, which occurred between 2015 and 2023, followed the long-standing military tradition requiring senior officers who are either senior to or of the same course as newly appointed service chiefs to disengage.

According to the military, the measure aims to preserve discipline, hierarchy, and operational efficiency within the armed forces.

However, insiders disclosed that the total number of affected generals could be as high as 900, though the figure could not be independently verified as military authorities were unavailable for comment.

The first wave of retirements was recorded in 2015 after former President Buhari appointed Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai as Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff. Over 120 senior officers, including Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Commodores, and at least one Rear Admiral, were retired during that period.

A second round occurred in 2021, when Buhari appointed a new set of service chiefs — Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru (Army), Air Marshal Isiaka Amao (Air Force), and Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (Navy). That exercise saw the exit of about 123 army generals, 50 senior Air Force officers, and 50 naval officers.

Following the death of Gen. Attahiru later that year and the appointment of Gen. Farouk Yahaya, who was junior to several serving generals, another 20 senior officers voluntarily retired.

Under President Tinubu, the pattern persisted. Two weeks after assuming office, Tinubu appointed new service chiefs on June 19, 2023 — Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja (Army), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar (Air Force), and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Navy). Their appointment triggered the retirement of 51 army generals, 49 Air Force officers, and 17 naval officers.

Last Friday, Tinubu again announced a major shake-up in the military hierarchy. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede replaced Gen. Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff; Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu became Chief of Army Staff; Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke took over as Chief of Air Staff; and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was appointed Chief of Naval Staff. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye, retained his position.