JUST IN: Tinubu Approves Ban On Homosexuality In Military 

JUST IN: Tinubu Approves Ban On Homosexuality In Military 

Nigerian military personnel are explicitly forbidden from participating in homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, cross-dressing, and any other behaviors considered inconsistent with the values of the armed forces.

Additionally, they are not allowed to engage in body piercing, tattooing, or exhibit disorderly conduct and intoxication, whether on duty or off duty.

This directive is outlined in Section 26 of the revised Harmonised Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on December 16, 2024.

Furthermore, the terms of service prohibit military officers from having romantic relationships with subordinates or their spouses.

Service members are required to settle financial obligations, such as vehicle licensing and insurance, promptly. They are also prohibited from joining secret societies or political parties.

“An officer must not engage in homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality. 

“He/she is not to belong to, or engage in activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) group and cross-dressing, amongst others.

“An officer must not engage in body piercing and tattooing of any part of his body. An officer shall not engage in any form of disorderly behaviour, brawl, or any action of public disgrace. An officer must not at any time be drunk whether on or off duty.

“An officer shall pay all just financial obligations in a proper and timely manner, especially those imposed by law and mutual contract. It is a very serious offence for an officer to be apprehended for failure to license or insure his vehicle, and other legal financial obligations. In the same vein, the issuance of a dud cheque constitutes an offence.

The document read further, “An officer shall not hold membership of any secret society or political party. He shall not participate, in any way, in activities concerned with such societies or parties even in observatory capacities.

“For the avoidance of doubt, since cultural or purely traditional religious societies are not normally secret by membership or in the conduct of their affairs, they are ipso-facto excluded from belonging to secret societies,” the statement reads.

Engaging in private business activities and misusing government property for personal benefits is also forbidden for those actively serving in the military.

“An officer shall not engage in private business. He shall not use or be allowed to use government property, his name, position and connection in any way with commercial enterprises outside employment or activity with or without compensation, which interfere or has the tendency of interfering with his official duty or which may be reasonably expected to bring discredit to the Service.

“An officer shall not accept gifts, favours, entertainments, etc, from officers junior to him in rank or from soldiers/ratings/airmen/airwomen,” the condition of service added.

The punishments or disciplinary measures against any personnel who violate the rules were, however, not stated.