By Our Correspondent

In a move to ensure that the Nigerian Military are not tainted by unacceptable social behaviours, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a
comprehensive review of the Harmonised Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The document signed on December 16 2024, identifies anti social behaviours and guidelines which men and officers are expected to comply with strictly, whether on duty or not.

The anti social behaviours include homosexuality, lesbianism, cross-dressing, body piercing, tattooing, disorderly behaviour, and drunkenness.

According to Leadership report, the document stipulates that “An officer must not engage in homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality. He/she is not to belong to, or engage in activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) group and cross-dressing.

“An officer must not engage in body piercing and tattooing of any part of his body.”

Also prohibited in the document are disorderly behaviour, drunkenness, and public disgrace.

“An officer shall not engage in any form of disorderly behavior, brawl, or any action of public disgrace.

“An officer must not at any time be drunk whether on or off duty.”

Furthermore, it is now an offence for Military personnel to engage in amorous relationships with their subordinates or their spouses.

“An officer shall not engage in any amorous relationship with any soldier/rating/airman/airwoman, fellow officers or soldier’s/rating’s/airman’s/airwoman’s spouse.”

The new directives also captured financial obligations that must be met by soldiers.

“An officer shall pay all just financial obligations in a proper and timely manner, especially those imposed by law and mutual contract.

Membership of political parties and questionable social organisations were not left out.

“An officer shall not hold membership of any secret society or political party. He shall not participate, in any way, in activities concerned with such societies or parties even in observatory capacities.”

Similarly, they should not run private businesses.

“An officer shall not engage in private business. He shall not use or be allowed to use government property, his name, position, and connection in any way with commercial enterprises outside employment or activity with or without compensation, which interfere or has the tendency of interfering with his official duty or which may be reasonably expected to bring discredit to the Service.”

Soldiers are not to accept gifts, favours, or entertainment from junior officers.

“An officer shall not accept gifts, favours, entertainments, etc., from officers junior to him in rank or from soldiers/ratings/airmen/airwomen.”

The guidelines are designed to ensure strict discipline, decorum and best practices among the Military.

(TheNiche)