About 47 officers of the Nigerian Army, among them eight Major Generals and some Brigadier Generals, have been retired by the Nigerian Army in line with the terms and conditions of service.

A report this morning in Saturday Vanguard quoted military sources as saying that those affected include Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels down to those of Captains and Majors. The retirements “followed the approval of the recommendations submitted to the council by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General KTJ Minimah,” the report said.

It said that the Army Council took the decision on Wednesday. The council is headed by President Goodluck Jonathan and it has as members, the Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Sumaila.

The officers, according to sources quoted by the paper, were retired based on the fact that many of themhad been caught by age on rank rule.

“Others were retired because they were non-deployable owing to lack of capacity among other reasons. Some were retired because they have failed promotions examination on the three occasions they got the opportunity (non-promotability),” the report said.

It added that yet others were retired having put in their papers for voluntary retirement because they have either attained the mandatory retirement age for their ranks.

According to the report, “Some of theMajor Generals who are 57 years orhave completedabove mandatory 35 years in service as stipulated in the civil service are affected.

“Among the group of those that voluntarily retired are some officers who held positions as Principal Staff Officers, General Officers Commanding and Commandant of Army Training Institutions during the tenure of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika.”

•Excerpted from Saturday Vanguard. Photo shows Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Minimah.