By Michael Dugeri

Introduction
Case law authority is that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NIC) has jurisdiction over service conditions in the military but only upon fulfilment of prescribed condition precedents. This means that when a dispute arises over service conditions in the military there is a multi-tier dispute resolution procedure that requires the aggrieved soldier, rating or aircraftman and officer to undertake certain steps in an attempt to settle the dispute internally before resorting to court action. It is important to note the binding nature of the multi-tier dispute resolution procedure in the military; whether it constitutes jurisdictional condition precedent to the commencement of action at the NIC, and the consequences of a party’s failure to comply.

Redress of Complaints in the Military

Section 178 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, Chapter A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, provides that if an officer thinks himself wronged in any matter by a superior officer or authority and on application to his commanding officer does not obtain the redress to which he thinks he is entitled, he may make a complaint with respect to that matter to the Armed Forces Council. A similar procedure is provided under section 179 of the Act for lower rank officials, that is, a soldier, rating or aircraftman.

Where a Complaint is brought under these provisions, it is to be resolved within three months of the complaint. The initial complaint is to be Commanding Officer of the aggrieved officer. A further right to appeal lies to the Armed Forces Council. In the case of junior officials however, a further right of appeal lies to any Army, Naval or Air Force officer under whom the complainant is for the time being serving, being an officer not below the rank of brigadier or corresponding rank.

Sub-section (3) provides that an officer who feels he has been wronged in any matter shall first exhaust the administrative remedies available to him under the provision above before embarking on any other action. Sub-section (5) states that no officer is to be penalised or victimized for bringing a complaint in accordance with the Act “if the complaint does not contravene a provision of this Act”. This implies that non-compliance with the provision of the Act will not only invalidate the complaint, it will also constitute a punishable offence under the Act. It is suggested that non-compliance should only invalidate a complaint without more.

Case law authorities

The courts have held in the cases of Lt. Col. Garba v. Nigerian Army & Others (Suit No. NICN/LA/611/2016) and Col. Ositadinma Uche Nwankwo (RTD) v. Nigerian Army & 7 Others (Suit No. NICN/ABJ/317/2016) that an aggrieved military service official must first exhaust the administrative remedies provided under the Armed Forces Act before approaching the NIC. Sections 178 and 179 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20 LFN 2004 provides that a soldier, rating or aircraftman who thinks himself wronged in any matter by a fellow serviceman or authority shall first seek redress from his commanding officer. Where the complainant is an ‘officer’ and is not satisfied with the decision of the commanding officer, a further right of appeal is available to him with respect to the matter to the Forces Council. What it means is that the NIC will only be able to assume jurisdiction in the matter after the administrative remedies in the Armed Forces Act are shown to be have been exhausted.

In the case of Lt. Col. Garba v. Nigerian Army & Others, the claimant, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigeria Army, sued his employer (Nigeria Army) and other relevant constituted authorities in the Nigeria Army. He contended that by a notification of retirement dated 2nd November 2014, the Nigeria Army (sued as the 1st defendant) notified him that he will be due for retirement on 31st May 2015. He was then offered to apply for voluntary retirement to the Office of the Chief of Army Staff (sued as 2nd defendant) not later than 31st December 2014 so that the 1st defendant may not consider him for compulsory retirement. He was then directed to proceed on terminal leave by 28th February 2015. The last sentence of paragraph 2 of the letter of notification of retirement of 21st November 2014 stated thus: “Please note that your disengagement from Service is subject to the approval of the Army Council”.

The claimant, by a letter dated 19th December 2014, accepted the offer and applied for voluntary retirement due to failure of Promotional Board 3/2014 examination as he was earlier directed. The 2nd defendant, by a letter dated 29th December 2014, forwarded the claimant’s application for voluntary retirement to the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary Departments for further necessary action. Specifically, the letter stated thus: “I am directed to respectfully forward a copy of Reference A on subject in respect of the above named officer for your necessary action, please”. There was no evidence before the court, other than mere averments, that the 2nd defendant accepted the claimant’s application for voluntary retirement as the claimant pleaded. Also, the 2nd defendant (as contended by the claimant) did not issue the claimant with a certificate of retirement; nor was he paid any of his retirements entitlements. Instead, by a letter of 1st June 2015 the 2nd defendant approved the suspension of the claimant’s retirement, ‘until investigation involving the claimant, Chisco Transport Limited and the Nigerian Army is concluded.’ This action was premised on section 43(a) of the Armed Forces Act.

The Court, in Lt. Col. Garba’s case, held that the claimant was a military officer at the time of institution of the case. As a result, the claimant was a person subject to service law governed by the Nigerian Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20 LFN 2004. The court further held that the claimant’s retirement notice from the Nigerian Army was effectively suspended in accordance with section 43(a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A20 LFN 2004, hence he was not issued with a mandatory Certificate of Retirement which could have formed the basis of retirement in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Notably, the court emphasized that section 178 of the Armed Forces Act aforesaid provides ample channel of administrative remedies for any alleged wrong done to any officer in the service of the Nigerian Armed Forces which requires as part of service discipline, to be exhausted before an officer can seek redress or embark in any other action including seeking redress in court. In the end, the case of the claimant failed because as an officer of the Nigerian Army he failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Armed Forces Act before bringing the case before the court (NIC). The court, in the case of Col. Ositadinma Uche Nwankwo (RTD) held that fulfilling the requirements of section 178 is mandatory and admits of no exception; as such any failure will render the suit incompetent.

It is pertinent to note earlier Court of Appeal decisions on the mandatory nature of compliance with section 178 of the Armed Forces Act. In the case of Major General Ovo Adhekegba v. The Honourable Minister of Defence & Others (2013) LPELR – 20154, the court held that “The wordings of Section 178, with particular reference to subsections (1) and (2) are quite clear and unambiguous. An aggrieved officer must first complain to his superior officer and if still unsatisfied, he then complains to the ‘Forces Council’”. In fact, the case of Wing Commander Yusuf Garba Mshelia v. Nigerian Air Force & Another (2014) LPELR – 23732 went the extra mile to hold that the duty enjoined under section 178 is one that is not only imposed on the officer but also one imposed on the Forces Council itself. Thus in the words of the Court of Appeal:

The refusal of the Forces Council to respond to the letter for redress by the appellant is condemned. The law imposed a duty on it, to consider the complaint, investigate it and grant the necessary redress if any. Its failure to act is a dereliction of that duty. The Armed Forces as a body, is supposed to be exemplary, in discipline, the world over. To violate the law and retire a member of that body in consequence is not an exhibition of discipline or exemplary conduct. To refuse to act in accordance with section 178 of the Armed Forces Act 2004, and to continue to keep the appellant in suspense, is an abuse of office, calculated at denying the appellant the right to seek redress in a court of law…

Conclusion
The NIC is now firmly established as a specialized tribunal with exclusive adjudicating power on matters relating to or connected with labour and industrial relations laws. However, the law is settled that where a party fails to satisfy a condition precedent to the institution of an action, the action instituted by a party is premature and consequently incompetent. See Omaliko v. Awachie (2002) 12 NWLR (Pt. 780) 1. It is only logical that the remedy prescribed by law must be exhausted before recourse to the law court. See also Ajibi v. Olaewe (2003) 8 NWLR (Pt. 822) 237. It is important to note the binding nature of the multi-tier dispute resolution procedure in the military; whether it constitutes jurisdictional condition precedent to the commencement of action at the NIC, and the consequences of a party’s failure to comply.