Nigeria senate chamber

The Senate has taken a major step toward banning the recruitment of anyone under 18 into Nigeria’s Armed Forces, as it passed the Armed Forces (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025, for second reading on Wednesday.

The new provision aligns Nigeria with global child-protection standards, including the Child Rights Act of 2003, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua representing Katsina Central, seeks to replace the current Armed Forces Act, 2004, with an updated legal framework that reflects constitutional norms and modern security realities.

Leading the debate, Yar’Adua said the reform was overdue, noting that the existing law, originally adapted from a military decree, no longer meets the expectations of a democratic system.

“Our Armed Forces are a symbol of national unity and pride, but the laws guiding them have not evolved at the same pace as our democracy. This bill rebuilds the military’s legal foundation to reflect justice, professionalism, and respect for human rights,” he said.

The proposed legislation introduces several key reforms. These include broadening the definition of military offences, ensuring punishments are proportionate, and criminalising interference by superior officers in courts-martial to protect judicial independence within the military.

For the first time, the bill also allows legally qualified military officers to represent the Armed Forces in civil courts. It creates a dedicated litigation fund to support timely handling of military-related legal matters.

Obsolete fines, some as low as ₦200 or ₦500, will be replaced with percentage-based penalties linked to an offender’s salary, making sanctions more realistic and deterrent.

The reform further clarifies the chain of command and strengthens civilian oversight. It vests day-to-day operational control of the Armed Forces in the Chief of Defence Staff, acting under presidential authority in line with Section 218 of the Constitution. Lawmakers say this resolves long-standing ambiguities and reinforces civilian supremacy over the military.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Joint Committee on Army, Navy and Air Force, which is expected to report back within four weeks.