Nigerian Army has granted approval to 196 soldiers to proceed on terminal leave with effect from November this year.

This followed the request made to that effect by the affected Soldiers through their resignation letters addressed to the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

According to the source, the affected soldiers were drawn from various formations of the army across the country and were mostly all junior officers.

The source further explained that the approval had been communicated to the affected Soldiers and their formations through an official memo dated August 23 which was signed by Brigadier General OH Musa and would take effect from November 30, 2024.

The memo sighted by our correspondents reads, “In accordance with the provisions of References A and B, the COAS vide Reference C approved the voluntary discharge of the above-named soldier and 195 others listed in Annex A. The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave with effect from 1 Nov 24 while their disengagement date takes effect from 30 Nov 24.

“Accordingly, I am directed to respectfully request you to cause the affected soldiers’ units to ensure that the discharging soldiers complete the following forms as enclosed and forward the same to this Department no later than 6 Sep 24”.

Though, the Army Headquarters was yet to issue any official statement on this as at the Press time, a very senior officer confirmed the story under anonymity, saying that it was a normal routine procedure in the service globally.

The source however dismissed the speculations in some quarters that the affected Soldiers were leaving to join foreign military services because of their poor welfare in the service of the Nigerian Army.

“There is no iota of truth in that false narrative that the affected Soldiers are leaving to enlist in foreign military services because of poor welfare, their request and the consequent approval are the routine best practice in the service,” the source added.