Army Clarifies COAS ’36 Years’ Of Service

Nigerian Army has clarified the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Farouk Yahaya’s year of service.

Gatekeepers News reports that the clarification comes amid reports by some sections of the media that the COAS who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Army for his confirmation, joined the Military 36 years ago.

The Army stated that Yahaya served in the military for 35 years statutorily allowed in the Federal Civil Service Rules as against the purported 36 years.

The Army quoted the COAS as saying “what I brought along in this highly tasking office is about 36 years of military experience, having joined the Army on 27 September 1985 as a member of 37 Regular Course (Degree),” when he was talking to the Senators.

“He went further to state ‘….Since that time when I passed out September 22nd, 1990…’,” a statement signed by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, reads.

“For the records, the COAS had accurately captured his military experience to include the 5 years he spent in training as Officer Cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy.

“The record of service of an officer however counts from the day he is commissioned.

“This is clearly stated in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers) 2017 Revised.

“In the case of the 22nd COAS as he stated clearly, he was commissioned on 22nd September 1990 which is reference point for his service years.”

The Army noted that the message being circulated is completely inaccurate and out of context.

Gatekeepers News reports that the Army urged the general public to disregard “this unfounded article as it was born either out of simple lack of knowledge of the military service or out of mischief which can best be explained by the author.”