NDA warns Reps against automatic acceptance of military school graduates

The Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) has warned the House of Representatives against a proposed amendment that would guarantee automatic admission to the academy for graduates of military secondary schools, arguing that the provision could violate the principle of federal character and deprive other qualified Nigerians of equal opportunities.

The academy stated its position Tuesday during a public hearing held by the House Defense Committee to review a number of defense-related legislative proposals.

Representing the NDA, Director of Military Training, Brigadier General Taiye Ahmed, told lawmakers that the proposed amendment aims to revise Section 8(2) of the Second Schedule of the NDA Act by granting preferential admission rights to graduates of military schools.

According to Ahmed, the bill specifically proposes that, “The Council will offer automatic admission to successful graduates of Nigerian military schools.”

Supporters of the amendment, he explained, believed that such graduates deserved special attention because of their military-oriented education and training. They also argue that offering direct access to academies could prevent them from becoming vulnerable to recruitment by criminal or extremist groups.

“The justification put forward by supporters is to prevent the school’s graduates from becoming useful tools in the hands of violent non-state actors because their graduates have military backgrounds,” 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.

Also read: Appeals Court Stops Enforcement of Order to Revoke Registration of ADC and Four Other Political Parties

However, Ahmed emphasized that the NDA does not support the amendments being drafted, and warned that they could give rise to constitutional complications and undermine the academy’s commitment to fairness and national representation.

“It is noted that if the amendment is passed as expressed, it has the potential to create a statutory impediment to constitutional principles of a federal nature. The NDA operates on these principles to ensure national unity and equal representation across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

He further argued that providing guaranteed admission to one category of applicants could expose the academy to legal challenges from candidates who did not attend military high schools.

“In addition, the proposed amendment may face legal challenges as it is discriminatory against applicants who did not attend military schools, as it could be seen as depriving them of their right to enter the Nigerian Defense Academy,” he added.

Ahmed noted that military school graduates have competed with civilian candidates through an admissions process designed to identify the most qualified applicants.

“Graduates of military schools now have an equal opportunity to apply to the Nigerian Defense Academy to be commissioned as regular combatant officers by competing with other interested Nigerians.

“This process consistently ensures that the NDA selects the best candidates regardless of which secondary school they attended,” he argued.

He also pointed out that military school graduates are not limited to the NDA route, because they already have many paths towards a military career and eventually being commissioned as officers.

“Graduates of military schools have the opportunity to immediately enlist in the army, particularly the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, after graduating from military secondary schools, and then proceed to higher military institutions through military sponsorship. After graduating from higher institutions, these graduates can apply to be commissioned as officers through short service commissions or direct short service commissions when advertised by any of the three armed forces of Nigeria,” he stressed.

Ahmed added that alternative opportunities remain available for personnel who do not earn commission through this route.

“Those who cannot gain admission through short service commission or direct short service commission can apply for executive commission later in their career,” he added.

Defending the academy’s existing admission process, the senior military officer said the NDA implements stringent standards that go beyond academic performance.

“It is important to mention that NDA has very strict admission criteria, including minimum JAMB scores as well as very high physical, psychological and medical standards,” he said further.

He revealed that records from previous admissions show that civilian applicants sometimes outperform military high school graduates in the overall assessment process.

“Available records in the Armed Forces indicate that civilian candidates can be better than some military school graduates based on the aforementioned criteria to avoid disenfranchising superior candidates who did not have the opportunity to attend military schools from entering the NDA,” Ahmed said.

Therefore, he urged lawmakers to maintain the existing revenue structure.

“The NDA is of the view that the current NDA admissions process should be maintained,” he argued.

The proposed amendments are part of a broader package of defense reform legislation being reviewed by lawmakers. Other measures under consideration include legislation to establish a Center for Joint Warfare and Doctrine, establishing an Armed Forces Medical College in Abuja, and converting the National Defense College into a graduate institution with expanded responsibilities for strategic research and professional military education.

At the end of the hearing, the Chairman of the House Defense Committee, Babajimi Benson, assured participants that all input would be carefully evaluated before final legislative action was taken.

“This is the people’s parliament. His contribution is invaluable,” Benson said.