By Olayemi Esan
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima says, the Chief of Army Staff COAS had accurately captured his military experience to include the 5 years he spent in training as Officer Cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy.
In a press statement on Tuesday in Abuja, Yerima explained that, the online media report that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Faruk Yahaya has served the military for 36 years instead of the 35 years statutorily allowed in the Federal Civil Service Rules is inaccurate and out of context. .
He explained that, the record of service of an officer however counts from the day he is commissioned.
Yerima added that, "This is clearly stated in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers) 2017 Revised. In the case of the 22nd COAS as he stated clearly, he was commissioned on 22nd September 1990 which is reference point for his service years.
He said this therefore means the message being circulated is completely inaccurate and out of context.
"It is worthy of mention that the COAS while appearing for confirmation did mentioned to the Distinguished Senators that "what I brought along in this highly tasking office is about 36 years of military experience, having joined the Army on 27 September 1985 as a member of 37 Regular Course (Degree)", Yerima quoted Yahaya
Yerima streesed that, Yahaya went further to state "....Since that time when I passed out September 22nd, 1990..."
Army spokesman therefore urged the general public to disregard this unfounded article as it was born either out of simple lack of knowledge of the military service or out of mischief which can best be explained by the author.
