The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step towards protecting children’s rights by passing the Armed Forces (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025, for second reading.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, aims to repeal the existing Armed Forces Act, 2004, and replace it with a constitutionally compliant and operationally responsive law.
The proposed legislation prohibits the recruitment of persons under the age of 18 into the military, aligning 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 introduces sweeping reforms, including expanding the definition of military offences, introducing proportionate punishments, and protecting the independence of courts-martial.
It also ensures that legally qualified military officers can represent the Armed Forces in civil courts and establishes a standing fund for litigation to handle military-related legal matters.
The legislation has been referred to the Senate Joint Committee on Army, Navy, and Air Force to report in four weeks. This move is seen as a crucial step towards strengthening civilian control of the military and promoting human rights in Nigeria.
