Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has directed top officers who are seniors to the newly appointed service chiefs to voluntarily retire from service before Monday.

The directive, contained in a memo dated June 26, 2023 was signed by Maj Gen Y. Yahaya on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff.

It ordered Generals, Brigadiers-General, Air vice marshals, and rear Admirals in the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Nigerian Navy, who are senior to the new service chiefs to do the needful, which is to retire voluntarily.

Some observers said it is a tradition in the military that when a junior is appointed as a service chief, senior officers, who are ahead of him or her would have to retire or be retired.