By Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd) mni fnipr
The recent screening of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs by the Nigerian Senate once again spotlighted an intriguing intersection between military custom and democratic protocol.
Zig Diaries Feature & Analysis
Date: Sundays, 02 November 2025
Time: 13:30 WAT
Location: 📍 Abuja, Nigeria
As each officer approached the dais, they paused before the mace-the revered symbol of legislative authority-and bowed respectfully to the Senate President before turning to acknowledge the senators seated to both sides of the chamber.
For many, these gestures were simple acts of courtesy. But within the disciplined world of the armed forces, it raised a subtle question of propriety and symbolism: should serving military officers in uniform bow before the legislature, or should they render the salute, in line with military tradition?
In mature democracies such as the United Kingdom and the United States, where civil-military relations are deeply institutionalised, there are no codified rules requiring salutes or bows before lawmakers. Senior military officers appearing before Parliament or Congress are expected only to stand respectfully, nod, or acknowledge the Chair - never to bow, and rarely to salute indoors or outside the chain of command.
Thus, Nigeria’s parliamentary bowing tradition, possibly inherited from civil service or legislative etiquette, exists in a grey area between civic respect and military deference. It is not incorrect, yet it diverges from the military’s codified customs and traditions.
The Customs, Traditions and Ethics of the Nigerian Armed Forces clearly outlines when, where, and to whom a military salute, formally known as the “payment of compliments”, should be rendered. It is not an arbitrary gesture but a disciplined, codified expression of respect, hierarchy, and mutual recognition among military personnel and to constituted authority.
In military culture, the salute represents discipline, honour, and the recognition of authority. A bow, by contrast, is a parliamentary courtesy, a civil expression of respect to an institution or its presiding officer. When uniformed officers bow instead of salute, it may inadvertently blur the distinction between professional courtesy and political deference.
In a democracy where the military remains firmly subordinate to civilian authority, this distinction matters deeply. The military salute embodies respect without compromising institutional identity, whereas bowing risks appearing as mimicry of political convention.
It is therefore timely to consider codifying a formal protocol for military officers’ appearances before legislative bodies. Such guidelines could stipulate that officers in uniform shall render a formal salute to the presiding officer when entering or exiting the chamber, symbolising respect to the National Assembly and, by extension, to the Republic. Officers in civilian attire, however, may continue to bow or nod in line with parliamentary norms.
For this to hold, mutual understanding between the Armed Forces and the National Assembly is essential. When officers salute in uniform before the legislature, it is not a lesser gesture of respect, it is an expression of loyalty to the Constitution and the authority of the state which the Assembly represents.
Conversely, when officers appear in civilian dress, bowing remains an appropriate civil courtesy. Such clarity would preserve the dignity of both institutions and sustain the healthy balance between civil authority and military professionalism.
The Nigerian Armed Forces, proud of its traditions and evolving ethos, must continue to refine its customs to reflect its dual identity, a disciplined force loyal to the Constitution, and a professional institution under democratic authority. By adopting the salute as its formal expression of respect, the military upholds its heritage while reinforcing democratic principles.
The debate on whether to bow or salute before the Senate may appear minor, but it strikes at the core of civil-military relations and institutional identity. Military officers owe unwavering respect to civil authority, but that respect should be conveyed through their own professional language. The salute, not the bow, remains that language.
🏷️ Tags: Military Protocol, Civil-Military Relations, Nigerian Senate, Defence Ethics, Sani Usman, Armed Forces Customs
#ZigDiariesDefence #CivilMilitaryRelations #Nigeria #MilitaryTradition #Leadership #Democracy
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