The Senate is moving to stop the enlistment of anyone under 18 years old into Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
The proposal is part of a new bill to repeal and reenact the Armed Forces Act, aligning military recruitment with the Child’s Rights Act and international laws that protect minors from combat involvement.
Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, the bill also seeks to give non-commissioned officers more rights and welfare benefits to boost morale within the ranks.
It further proposes clearer command structures — giving the President overall authority as Commander-in-Chief while assigning day-to-day control to the Chief of Defence Staff.
If passed, the law will also allow qualified military lawyers to represent the Armed Forces in civil courts.
