The Nigerian Senate has initiated moves to prohibit the recruitment of individuals below 18 years of age into the nation’s armed forces.
The move follows the Senate’s passage of the Armed Forces (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025, for second reading.
The proposed law, which prohibits the enlistment of minors, aligns Nigeria’s military practices with the Child Rights Act, 2003, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
The bill was sponsored by Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central, and it seeks to repeal the existing Armed Forces Act, 2004, and replace it with a constitutionally compliant and operationally responsive law.
Leading the debate on the floor of the Senate, the lawmaker stated that the reform was long overdue.
He emphasized that the existing law, rooted in an old military decree, is outdated and fails to reflect the principles of modern governance, democratic accountability, and the current security landscape.
