The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has cautioned the House of Representatives against a proposed amendment that would guarantee automatic admission into the academy for graduates of military secondary schools, arguing that such a provision could violate the federal character principle and deny other qualified Nigerians equal opportunity.
The academy made its position known on Tuesday during a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Defence to review a number of defence-related legislative proposals.
Representing the NDA, the Director of Military Training, Brigadier General Taiye Ahmed, told lawmakers that the proposed amendment seeks to revise Section 8(2) of the Second Schedule to the NDA Act by granting preferential admission rights to graduates of military schools.
According to Ahmed, the bill specifically proposes that, “The board shall offer automatic admission for successful graduates from Nigerian military schools.”
Supporters of the amendment, he explained, believe such graduates deserve special consideration because of their military-oriented upbringing and training. They also argue that offering them direct access into the academy could prevent them from becoming vulnerable to recruitment by criminal or extremist groups.
“The justification advanced by the proponents is to prevent the graduates of the schools from being handy tools in the hands of non-state violent actors because of the graduate military background,” he said.
Under the proposal, institutions classified as Nigerian military schools would include the Nigerian Military School, Zaria; Air Force Military School; Air Force Girls Military School; and the Nigerian Navy Military School.
However, Ahmed maintained that the NDA does not support the amendment as currently drafted, warning that it could create constitutional complications and undermine the academy’s commitment to fairness and national representation.
“It was observed that if the amendment is passed as phrased, it has the potential of creating statutory bottlenecks on the constitutional principle of federal character. The NDA operates on this principle to ensure national unity and equal representation across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory FCT,” he said.
He further argued that granting guaranteed admission to one category of applicants could expose the academy to legal challenges from candidates who did not attend military secondary schools.
“Moreover, the proposed amendment could face legal challenges for being discriminatory against applicants who did not attend the military school, as it could be perceived as disenfranchising them for admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy,” he added.
Ahmed noted that military school graduates already compete alongside civilian candidates through an admission process designed to identify the most qualified applicants.
“The graduates of military schools currently have equal opportunity to seek admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy to be commissioned as regular combatant officers by competing with other interested Nigerians.
“The process has consistently ensured that the NDA selects the best candidates irrespective of the secondary school they attended,” he argued.
He also pointed out that military school graduates are not limited to the NDA route, as they already have multiple pathways into military careers and eventual commissioning as officers.
“Graduates of the military schools have the opportunity for immediate enlistment as soldiers, especially the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, upon graduation from military secondary schools, and thereafter proceed to higher military institutions through military sponsorship. Upon graduation from higher institutions, these graduates could apply to be commissioned as officers through the short service commission or the direct short service commission when advertised by any of the three services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” he stressed.
Ahmed added that alternative opportunities remain available for personnel who do not secure commissions through those channels.
“Those unable to secure admission through the short service commission or the direct short service commission could apply for the executive commission later in their career,” he added.
Defending the academy’s existing admission process, the senior military officer said the NDA applies rigorous standards that go beyond academic performance.
“It is pertinent to state that the NDA has a very strict admission criteria, including minimum JAMB score as well as very high standard physical, psychological and medical standards,” he further said.
He disclosed that records from previous admission exercises indicate that civilian applicants sometimes outperform graduates of military secondary schools in the overall assessment process.
“Available records in the Armed Forces show that civilian candidates could be better than some military school graduates based on their earlier mentioned criteria to avoid disenfranchising excellent candidates that did not have the opportunity of attending military schools from admission into NDA,” Ahmed stated.
He therefore urged lawmakers to preserve the existing admission structure.
“The NDA is of the opinion that the current admission process into the NDA should be maintained,” he argued.
The proposed amendment formed part of a broader package of defence reform bills reviewed by lawmakers. Other measures under consideration include legislation to establish a Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre, create an Armed Forces Medical College in Abuja, and transform the National Defence College into a postgraduate institution with expanded responsibilities for strategic research and professional military education.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, assured participants that all submissions would be carefully evaluated before any final legislative action is taken.
“This is the people’s parliament. The contributions have been worthwhile,” Benson said.
(Ripples)
