The Senate has moved to ban the recruitment of anyone under 18 into Nigeria’s armed forces, after passing the Armed Forces (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025 for second reading on Thursday.
According to lawmakers, the provision aligns the country’s military regulations with existing child protection frameworks, including the Child Rights Act 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 (Katsina Central), seeks to repeal the Armed Forces Act 2004 and replace it with what he described as a "constitutionally compliant and operationally responsive" legal framework.
Leading the debate, Yar’Adua said the reform was necessary because the current law, originally adapted from a military decree, no longer reflects the realities of democratic governance or modern security challenges.
"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 contains wide-ranging reforms which expands the definition of military offences, introduces more proportionate punishments, and criminalises interference in courts-martial by senior officers.
For the first time, legally qualified military officers will also be permitted to represent the Armed Forces in civil courts, supported by a standing litigation fund designed to speed up legal processes involving the military.
The bill further modernises existing penalties, replacing archaic fines, some as low as N200 or N500, with percentage-based sanctions tied to an offender’s salary.
Lawmakers say the adjustment will ensure penalties remain both deterrent and economically realistic.
The legislation clarifies the chain of command by vesting operational leadership of the Armed Forces in the Chief of Defence Staff, acting under the authority of the President, in line with Section 218 of the Constitution.
According to Senate, the restructuring of command hierarchy would remove long-standing ambiguities and reinforce the principle of civilian control of the military.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Joint Committee on Army, Navy and Air Force, with lawmakers expected to submit their report within four weeks.
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