Nigerian Army shift focus to troop welfare with ‘Soldier first ‘ Initiative amidst rising casualties
OkThe Nigerian Army has launched the “Soldier First” initiative, prioritizing troop welfare amidst rising casualties. This move aims to enhance the overall well-being of personnel, preparing them for life after service. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has directed the reorganization of existing welfare schemes and introduced new initiatives to support soldiers. […]
OkThe Nigerian Army has launched the “Soldier First” initiative, prioritizing troop welfare amidst rising casualties.
This move aims to enhance the overall well-being of personnel, preparing them for life after service. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has directed the reorganization of existing welfare schemes and introduced new initiatives to support soldiers.
The initiative focuses on addressing the needs of soldiers, including living conditions, medical care, accommodation, and family support systems. General Oluyede emphasized that a well-catered soldier is a motivated one, and such motivation is key to sustaining operational momentum, especially in volatile and high-risk zones.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) had in 2022 stated that between 2019 and 2021, the Nigerian military suffered over 1,000 fatalities in battles with Boko Haram, while another report by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) published in 2022 noted that the Nigerian military had reported over 3,000 fatalities between 2015 and 2020.
But in a swift reaction, the Nigerian Army says it is now focusing on troop welfare as a strategic move to boost moral, motivation, and operational effectiveness. Insisting that by prioritizing the needs of its soldiers, the army aims to enhance its capabilities in addressing the evolving security challenges facing the country.
Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the acting Director Army Public Relations, while highlighting some of the key Components of the Initiative, explained that it is targeted among other things to Improved Living Conditions of troop.
She stated that the army is committed to upgrading barracks infrastructure, ensuring that soldiers have access to decent accommodation, sanitation facilities, and other essential amenities.
She said it also include the establishment of modern medical facilities, staffed by experienced healthcare professionals, to provide timely and effective treatment for wounded soldiers. Noting that in recognizing the psychological toll of military operations, the army is introducing counseling services and stress management programs to support soldiers’ mental well-being.
“The “Soldier First” initiative includes opportunities for soldiers to acquire new skills, pursue higher education, and engage in vocational training, enhancing their post-service prospects.
“The army is committed to providing support for soldiers’ families, including access to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment programs” she explained.
To this end, he opined that “a soldier who understands that his well-being is the priority of his commanders at all levels and his Chief of Army Staff, will naturally be motivated and encouraged to perform better even in the face of adversity”.
Outlining the Chief of Army Staff deliberate steps, the Director of NA Public Relations further explained that the COAS view is not rhetoric, but on how to restructure soldiers experience service, which according to her includes entitlement, promotional prospects and a fulfilled exit from Service, whether voluntary or at retirement.
Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024 for the Modern Military
The clearest manifestation of this policy shift is the adherence to the recently realigned Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024 for Soldiers, Ratings and Airmen, a sweeping document that standardises how non-commissioned personnel in the Army, Navy, and Air Force are treated, promoted, and disengaged from service.
For the uninitiated, the HTACOS 2024 may appear on paper as just another bureaucratic update, but within the military, it is widely viewed as a turning point. For the first time, the document provides a unified and transparent structure for career progression across the three services, ensuring that a corporal in the Army is no less visible to the system than a counterpart in the Air Force or Navy.
The framework lays out time-in-rank requirements, merit-based assessments, and clear pathways for promotion. From the first stripe to the senior non-commissioned levels, each promotion is now tied to specific years of service, satisfactory performance appraisals, and successful completion of relevant trade or professional military education.
A recruit may now expect to move up to lance corporal after three years of solid service, with progression to corporal and sergeant following at intervals of two to four years, provided they meet all required standards. Promotion is no longer a function of chance or favour; it is structured, measured, and earned, a factor the NA strictly adheres to.
Importantly, HTACOS introduces mandatory promotion examinations, trade tests, and fitness assessments. Medical certification has also become a requirement, underscoring the military’s growing attention to both physical readiness and personal accountability.
“We want a system where hard work is rewarded, not overlooked,” a senior Army administrative officer explained, adding that “you can’t keep soldiers motivated if there’s no clear road ahead.”
Beyond promotions, the new terms also clarify the conditions under which personnel can disengage from service, whether by retirement, voluntary discharge, or other non-punitive means. One of the more talked-about provisions is the introduction of a minimum 18 years of service as the threshold for voluntary retirement, offering soldiers a dignified exit point well ahead of the old 35-year maximum. This has been received as a welcome development among rank-and-file personnel who had often felt trapped in a system that didn’t account for fatigue, career transition, or family needs.
The HTACOS document also includes guidelines on reversion, where promotions given in error or under questionable circumstances can be reversed. While tough, the policy is seen as necessary for cleaning up practices that had long damaged confidence in the system.
Tackling Allegations of Promotion Delays, Pay Stagnation
This approach has become increasingly relevant in the face of public scrutiny, following a recent publication alleging delayed promotions and pay stagnation among NA personnel.
Describing the report as false, misleading and malicious, the NA maintained that promotions are strictly governed by transparent procedures rooted in the HTACOS 2024 for soldiers, ratings and airmen, while pay structure adjustments falls under the constitutional purview of the appropriate federal institutions.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the acting Director Army Public Relations, The HTACOS framework, specifically paragraph 04.01, made it clear that promotion is granted only in recognition of hard work, professionalism, and efficiency, with criteria to include performance reports, successful completion of requisite courses, proven medical fitness, duration of service, and endorsement by a duly constituted Promotion Board.
She said: “Furthermore, paragraph 04.02 and 04.04 of HTACOS Soldiers provide detailed timelines and criteria for promotion across all ranks, from Private to Army Warrant Officer. These regulations are transparent, well-structured and in line with global military best practices. Every service personnel is aware of this provision and guideline.
“No soldier can bypass these processes and any change in timeline is strictly tied to these professional standards, not arbitrary decisions or personal discretion as erroneously suggested by the publication. Claims of pay stagnation are completely unfounded, as pay structure adjustments falls under the constitutional purview of the appropriate federal institutions and not within the unilateral control of the Army leadership.”
Promotion within the Nigerian Army, therefore, is not only merit-driven but also bound by institutional regulations that ensure fairness and professionalism, thus it would be impossible for any personnel to bypass these established structures.
Still on the “Soldier First” Concept, she said the current Army leadership, under Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has consistently demonstrated commitment to the welfare of personnel, including timely promotions, improved living conditions, and entitlements.
“It is on record that the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen OO Oluyede, on assumption of office, doubled the personnel Ration Cash Allowance. He also enhanced the Nigerian Army Welfare Loan Scheme for troops.
“This is aimed at empowering personnel through SME development and assets acquisition with minimum bureaucracy and low interest rate. These are among several other welfare schemes, programmes and interventions of the Chief of Army Staff aimed at improving the quality of lives of personnel and their families,” she stated.
“The Nigerian Army remains a professional and disciplined Army, guided by due process, and will not be distracted by propaganda from discredited platforms seeking to destabilise the morale and cohesion of its gallant troops. The Nigerian Army continues to uphold excellence, transparency, and dedication to duty in service to the nation”, Anele added.