The Nigerian Army has refuted claims that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede has introduced an automatic promotion policy for personnel who have served in their current ranks for five years or more.
This was stated in a press release by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu described the claims as misleading and baseless, calling them deliberate misinformation intended to deceive personnel and the public.
He clarified that promotion in the Army is a structured, merit-based process governed by clearly defined statutory regulations and provisions, adding that it is neither arbitrary nor influenced by social media speculation.
According to him, the conditions for promotion are clearly outlined in the Nigerian Army Administrative Policies and Procedures (Revised 2023) and the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Soldiers, Ratings, and Airmen (2024).
“Among other requirements, key criteria for promotion in the Armed Forces include, but are not limited to, serving the stipulated minimum period in a substantive rank, successful completion of requisite professional courses, maintaining a satisfactory disciplinary and performance record, and meeting medical and physical fitness standards.
“It must be emphasised that the Nigerian Army, like other branches of the Armed Forces, adheres to unified standards for promotion.
“The Army will, therefore, not deviate from these established protocols, which ensure fairness, professionalism, and operational effectiveness across the services.
“The public is urged to disregard the false claims that the Chief of Army Staff has introduced an automatic promotion policy for personnel who have served in their current ranks for five years or more, as these reports hold no credibility.”
Nwachukwu further stated that the Army Chief remains committed to the welfare, career progression, and professional development of personnel, as reflected in his “Soldier First” mantra.
“He will not act in a manner that undermines due process and international best practices,” he added.
