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By Gloria Ikibah

A proposal to grant automatic admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) for graduates of military secondary schools has drawn strong opposition from defence stakeholders, who argue that the measure could compromise merit-based selection and conflict with constitutional provisions governing access to higher education.

This was the concerns raised on Tuesday during the second day of a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, as lawmakers considered a series of amendments to existing military legislation.

The proposed amendment to the NDA Act seeks to create a pathway for students graduating from military secondary schools to gain direct entry into the academy without undergoing the standard competitive admission process.

However, participants at the hearing cautioned that such a provision could unfairly disadvantage other qualified candidates seeking admission into the country’s premier military training institution.

The hearing considered four defence-related bills, among which includes a Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Defence Academy Act, 2024 and for Related Matters (HB.1709), which proposes automatic admission for graduates of Nigerian military schools into the academy.

Presenting the position of the Nigerian Defence Academy, the Director of Military Training, Brigadier General Taiye Ahmed, explained that the proposed amendment seeks to alter Section 8(2) of the Second Schedule to the NDA Act by granting what he described as “automatic admission, right of first refusal” to applicants from Nigerian military schools.

He argued that admission into the NDA should remain open to all eligible Nigerians through a transparent and competitive process, regardless of educational background or institutional affiliation.

Ahmed said the proposed amendment provides that: “The board shall offer automatic admission for successful graduates from Nigerian military schools.”

According to him, the justification advanced by the proponents is “to prevent the graduates of the schools from being handy tools in the hands of non state violent actors because of the graduate military background.”

He further explained that the proposal also seeks to introduce an interpretation section defining “The Board” as the Board of the Nigerian Defence Academy, “Applicant” as candidates applying to the NDA, and “Nigerian Military Schools” as military schools that provide full military and academic training, including the Nigerian Military School, Zaria; Air Force Military School; Air Force Girls Military School; and the Nigerian Navy Military School.

However, Ahmed said the academy does not support the amendment in its current form.

“However it was observed that if the amendment is passed as phrased, it has the potential of creating statutory bottlenecks on the constitutional principle of federal character. The NDA operates on this principle to ensure national unity and equal representation across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory FCT,” he said.

He added that the proposal could also face legal hurdles because it would unfairly disadvantage other Nigerians seeking admission into the academy.

“Moreover, the proposed amendment could face legal challenges for being discriminatory against applicants who did not attend the military school as it could be perceived as disenfranchising them for admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy”, he added.

Ahmed maintained that graduates of military secondary schools already enjoy equal opportunities under the existing admission process.

“The graduates of military schools currently have equal opportunity to seek admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy to be commissioned as regular combatant officers by competing with other interested Nigerians.

“The process has consistently ensured that the NDA selects the best candidates irrespective of the secondary school they attended.

“Moreover graduates of the military schools have the opportunity for immediate enlistment as soldiers, especially the Nigerian Military School, Zaria upon graduation from military secondary schools and thereafter proceed to higher military institutions through military sponsorship. Upon graduation from higher institutions these graduates could apply to be commissioned as officers through the short service commission or the direct short service commission when advertised by any of the three services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria”, he said.

According to him, officers who do not secure commissions through those channels still have another opportunity later in their careers.

“Furthermore those unable to secure admission through the short service commission or the direct short service commission could apply for the executive commission later in their career.

“It is pertinent to state that the NDA has a very strict admission criteria including minimum JAMB score as well as very high standard physical, psychological and medical standard”, he asserted.

He further disclosed that available records indicate that civilian applicants sometimes outperform graduates of military secondary schools during the selection process.

He urged lawmakers to retain the current admission framework.

“Available record in the Armed Forces show that civilian candidates could be better than some military school graduates based on their earlier mentioned criteria to avoid disenfranchising excellent candidates that did not have the opportunity of attending military schools from admission into NDA.

“The NDA is of the opinion that the current admission process into the NDA should be maintained”, he stated.

Stakeholders also expressed concern that automatic admission for a particular category of applicants could limit opportunities for talented candidates from civilian schools and potentially weaken the diversity of the officer corps in the long term.

Besides the proposed amendment to the Nigerian Defence Academy Act, the committee also considered bills seeking to establish a Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre to enhance coordination and effectiveness of military operations; establish the Armed Forces Medical College, Abuja; and establish the National Defence College of Nigeria as a postgraduate degree-awarding institution and centre for strategic research and professional military education.

Speaking at the close of the session, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, commended participants for their contributions.

“This is the peoples Parliament. The contributions have been worthwhile,” Benson said.

The debate formed part of broader deliberations on defence-related legislative reforms currently before the National Assembly, with lawmakers examining proposals aimed at strengthening military institutions and improving the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security architecture.

The House Committee on Defence, chaired by Hon. Babajimi Benson, is expected to review submissions from stakeholders before making recommendations on the contentious amendment and other defence bills under consideration.