The Senate has taken steps to prohibit the enlistment of persons below 18 years into the Nigerian Armed Forces, as it passed the Armed Forces (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025, for second reading.
Naijaonpoint reports that the bill seeks to outlaw the recruitment of minors and align the country’s military laws with the Child Rights Act, 2003, as well as international conventions such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (Katsina Central), the proposed legislation aims to repeal the current Armed Forces Act, 2004, and replace it with a modern, constitutionally compliant framework that better responds to contemporary security demands.
Leading the debate on the floor of the Senate, Yar’Adua said the reform was overdue, stressing that the existing law, originally derived from a military decree, no longer reflects democratic principles or present-day operational realities.
“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,” he said.
“This bill rebuilds the military’s legal foundation to reflect justice, professionalism, and respect for human rights.”
The proposed law introduces far-reaching reforms intended to strengthen discipline, accountability, and fairness within the Armed Forces.
These include:
- Expanding the definition of military offences to capture modern security challenges
- Introducing proportionate punishments for military infractions
- Protecting the independence of courts-martial by criminalising interference from superior officers
The latter provision, lawmakers noted, would serve as a safeguard against the abuse of power and ensure that military justice is administered without fear or favour.
The bill has now been forwarded to the relevant Senate committee for further legislative work, after which it will return to the chamber for third reading.
Naijaonpoint reports that if eventually passed and assented to, the new Armed Forces Act would mark one of the most significant legal overhauls of Nigeria’s military in decades, with major implications for recruitment standards, human rights protections, and internal discipline.
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