Former Nigerian Air Force spokesperson, Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu (retd.), expressed concern about the abundance of Generals in the Nigerian Army, stating that this has made it challenging to appoint service chiefs.
Shehu made these remarks during an appearance on Arise TV from Kaduna. He emphasized that although the retirement of these Generals would lead to replacements, the sheer number being retired is abnormal, with approximately 133 Major Generals in the Army, Rear Admirals in the Navy, and Air Vice Marshals in the Air Force leaving.
He also noted that the significant financial investment in training these personnel, both locally and abroad, along with the loss of experience, is detrimental to the national economy. Shehu acknowledged the constitutional authority of the President to appoint service chiefs without restrictions based on seniority, but he pointed out the challenge faced by President Bola Tinubu, who inherited a pool of around 350 Major Generals, illustrating a systemic problem that began long ago.
Shehu advocated for a military personnel management system that follows a filtering process, promoting only the best candidates to the rank of General, rather than the current situation where a large proportion of officers attain this rank. He highlighted the warnings of General Ishola Williams, dating back to 2020, regarding the imbalance between the number of Generals and field troops, emphasizing the long-term negative consequences for the country.
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