According to PUNCH, the Nigerian Military is set to announce a halt of the admission of female cadets into the combatant course of the Nigerian Defence Academy after 6 years since the practice was introduced under Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.
The decision was reportedly suggested by the recently inaugurated Armed Forces Council in a document tagged the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of the Armed Forces of Nigeria which has since been ratified by President Buhari.
The recommendation to eliminate female cadets read “Phase out the training of female regular combatant cadets” and could essentially make it impossible for any women to head arms of the military. This is because per an anonymous general, only the Regular Combatant Commission facilitates the opportunity to head any of the military services or become Chief of Defence Staff. The earlier quoted general suggests the original proposal was made by Northern leaders who cannot fathom a woman rising to the top of the army and dishing out orders to men.
The fact that we must still deal with proposals of this such is disappointing and even more so if indeed has President Buhari ratified these terms. Then again, are there no checks and balances like passing these terms through the senate in place or does Buhari’s position as the leader of the armed forces make him the only signatory to decisions like these?