A total of 113 Nigerian Army Generals on Tuesday bowed out of the service.
The breakdown includes one General, one Lieutenant General, 67 Major Generals, and 44 Brigadier Generals.
At the Regimental Dinner Night organised in honour of newly retired and retiring Nigerian Army senior officers in Abuja, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, hailed the support of the Nigerian Army towards the growth of democracy in the country.
Badaru said this has made the Army a shining example in the West African region and beyond, urging other services in the region to take a cue from the Army.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the minister urged the Army to continue to remain loyal to the constitution and support the development of democracy in the country.
The statement partly read,
“The minister charged members of the Armed Forces to remain loyal and sustain the culture of supporting democracy in Nigeria and across the shores.
“He added that the disposition of the Armed Forces towards democracy had made it a shining example in West Africa and an influencer in the comity of nations.
“The minister noted that the occasion provided the Nigerian Army the opportunity to reflect on its service and profound dedication as demonstrated by the retired and retiring senior officers.
“He noted that the Federal Government will continue to do all within its reach to improve the well-being of serving and retired personnel.”
Badaru also hailed retired and retiring officers of the Nigerian Army for their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to the nation’s stability.
He assured prompt payment of their pension.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, thanked President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and the defence minister for their untiring support to the Nigerian Army.
He reaffirmed the unalloyed loyalty of the NA to the President and the nation in the discharge of its constitutional roles in defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
He advised the retired senior officers to appreciate God and the Nigerian Army for a successful sojourn in the ‘noble profession of arms’ and attaining the point of meritorious disengagement from active service.