My Service Record Counts From When I Was Commissioned In 1990 - COAS, Yahaya

The Daily Crucible

The new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Farouk Yahaya has said that he never claimed to have served the Nigerian Army for 36 years as presented in a report by an online medium, not The Daily Crucible.

Dismissing the report as unfounded, COAS urged the public to disregard it 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."

Responding through Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, the 

Director Army Public Relations, clarified that he joined the army as a Cadet Officer in training in 1985 but added that his record of service as an officer however started counting  from the day he was commissioned in 1990. 

The response reads:"Our attention has been drawn to a publication by an online news medium National Mail Online where it was reported that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Faruk Yahaya has served the military for 36 years instead of the 35 years statutorily allowed in the Federal Civil Service Rules.

"It is worthy of mention that the COAS while appearing for confirmation did mentioned to the Distinguished Senators that '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 '. He went further to state '....Since that time when I passed out September 22nd, 1990...'

"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. This therefore means the message being circulated is completely inaccurate and out of context. 

"The general public is therefore advised 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."