Senate Passes Second Reading of Bill to Repeal and Re-Enact Armed Forces Act

By Iyojo Ameh

A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Armed Forces Act and to Re-enact a Modern, Constitutionally Compliant, and Operationally Responsive Legal Framework for the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2025, has passed second reading in the Senate.

Presenting the bill during plenary, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Yar’Adua Abdulaziz, said the nation’s military laws need to be reviewed and aligned with universally acceptable democratic governance systems that reflect the realities of the time.

Supporting the bill, Senators Abdul Ningi (Bauchi South) and Monguno Tahir (Borno North) emphasized the need to amend and restructure the Armed Forces Act to address observed loopholes and strengthen the nation’s defense framework.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu stated that the proposed law should include provisions guiding the appointment of service chiefs by the President, to ensure efficient utilization of trained officers and prevent the waste of resources.

In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, stressed the importance of involving military authorities in the review process to avoid infringing on established military traditions.

The bill was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Army for further legislative scrutiny and preparation for a public hearing, with a directive to report back in four weeks.