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The Nigerian Army has firmly dismissed rumors suggesting that Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff, has rolled out a policy granting automatic promotions to personnel lingering in their current ranks for five years or longer, putting an emphatic end to the swirling speculation.
This rebuttal came through a polished press release delivered on Tuesday in Abuja by Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the articulate Director of Army Public Relations, who stepped into the spotlight to set the record straight.
Nwachukwu didn’t mince words, labeling the assertions as groundless and deceptive, and accusing those behind them of orchestrating a calculated campaign of misinformation aimed at hoodwinking both the rank-and-file soldiers and the broader public.
He elaborated with authority, underscoring that promotions within the Army remain a deliberate, merit-driven exercise, meticulously guided by well-established statutory frameworks and regulations—far removed from the whims of conjecture or the chatter of social media echo chambers.
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.
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“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 added that he would not act in a manner that undermines due process and international best practices.
