KEY POINTS
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Senate passes bill to prohibit recruitment of minors into Nigerian Armed Forces and modernise military law.
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Legislation strengthens civilian oversight, courts-martial independence, and legal representation for the military.
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Reform expected to improve operational efficiency, safeguard human capital, and indirectly support economic stability.
The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step to prohibit the recruitment of persons under 18 into the military, passing the Armed Forces (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025, for second reading.
Channelstv reports that the move is intended to align military recruitment practices with the Child Rights Act of 2003, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua of Katsina Central, the bill seeks to replace the existing Armed Forces Act of 2004 with a modern, constitutionally compliant law capable of addressing contemporary security and governance challenges. Yar’Adua argued that the current legislation, a legacy of a military decree, no longer meets the demands of democratic oversight or evolving security realities.
“Our Armed Forces are a symbol of national unity and pride, but the laws guiding them have not evolved at the same pace as our democracy. This Bill rebuilds the military’s legal foundation to reflect justice, professionalism, and respect for human rights,” Yar’Adua said during the Senate debate.
Modernising Military Law
Beyond banning child recruitment, the proposed legislation introduces broad reforms. It expands definitions of military offences, introduces proportionate punishments, and safeguards the independence of courts-martial by criminalising interference from senior officers. The bill also allows legally qualified military officers to represent the Armed Forces in civil courts and establishes a standing litigation fund to streamline legal proceedings.
Obsolete fines, some as low as N200 or N500, will be replaced with percentage-based penalties linked to an offender’s salary, ensuring sanctions remain meaningful and reflective of economic realities. The bill also clarifies the chain of command, formally vesting daily operational control in the Chief of Defence Staff under the authority of the President, reinforcing civilian oversight and constitutional supremacy.
The bill has now been referred to the Senate Joint Committee on Army, Navy, and Air Force, which is expected to report within four weeks. If passed into law, the reforms will mark the most significant overhaul of Nigeria’s military legal framework in over two decades.
Legal clarity and professionalisation of the armed forces are expected to have indirect economic effects. By enhancing operational efficiency and accountability, the reforms could reduce security-related disruptions that affect business, investment, and economic stability. Protecting minors from recruitment also reinforces human capital development, ensuring that young Nigerians remain in school and are not exposed to the economic and social costs of armed conflict.
