By Christiana Ekpa
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has opposed a proposed amendment to its governing law seeking automatic admission for graduates of military secondary schools, warning that the move could violate the federal character principle and unfairly exclude thousands of qualified Nigerian applicants.
The academy made its position known on Tuesday during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Defence on a bill seeking to amend the NDA Act.
Presenting the NDA’s submission, the Director of Military Training, Brigadier General Taiye Ahmed, said the proposed legislation would grant military school graduates what amounts to a “right of first refusal” in admissions into the country’s premier military university.
The bill proposes an amendment to Section 8(2) of the Second Schedule to the NDA Act to provide automatic admission for successful graduates of recognised military secondary schools, including the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, Air Force Military School, Air Force Girls Military School and Nigerian Navy Military School.
Proponents of the bill argue that the measure would prevent graduates of military schools from becoming vulnerable to recruitment by non-state violent actors because of their military-oriented background and training.
However, Ahmed told lawmakers that the academy does not support the amendment in its current form, describing it as potentially discriminatory and constitutionally problematic.
According to him, the proposal could create statutory obstacles to the federal character principle, which guides admissions into the academy and ensures equitable representation from all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“If the amendment is passed as currently drafted, it has the potential of creating statutory bottlenecks on the constitutional principle of federal character,” Ahmed said.
He further warned that granting automatic admission to a specific category of applicants could expose the law to legal challenges from other Nigerians seeking entry into the academy.
“Such a provision could be perceived as disenfranchising candidates who did not attend military schools and may therefore be challenged as discriminatory,” he added.
Ahmed stressed that graduates of military secondary schools already compete on equal footing with other applicants under the existing admission process and are not disadvantaged.
He noted that the NDA’s admission process is merit-driven and involves rigorous academic, physical, medical and psychological assessments, including prescribed JAMB score requirements.
“The process has consistently ensured that the NDA selects the best candidates irrespective of the secondary school they attended,” he said.
The senior military officer also disclosed that available records show that civilian candidates often outperform some military school graduates during the selection process.
He argued that reserving admission slots for military school graduates could shut out more qualified candidates who never had the opportunity to attend such institutions.
Beyond admission into the NDA, Ahmed said graduates of military secondary schools already enjoy multiple pathways into military service.
According to him, graduates particularly those of the Nigerian Military School, Zaria—can enlist directly as soldiers and subsequently advance through military-sponsored education programmes.
They can also seek officer commissions through the Short Service Commission, Direct Short Service Commission or Executive Commission routes.
“The current admission process into the NDA should be maintained,” he told the committee.
The public hearing also examined three other defence-related bills seeking to establish a Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre, an Armed Forces Medical College in Abuja, and a National Defence College with powers to award postgraduate degrees and conduct strategic military research.
Speaking at the end of the hearing, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, praised stakeholders for their robust contributions.
“This is the people’s Parliament. The contributions have been worthwhile,” Benson said.
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