Section 16: Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"Armed Forces of the Federation" means the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force;
"basic pay" means the daily rate of pay payable to another rank, but does not include allowances;
"disabled" means physical or mental injury or damage, or loss of physical or mental capacity;
"ex-serviceman" means a past member of the Armed Forces;
"free services element" means such amount as is prescribed in the First Schedule, as being the estimated value of free facilities including lodging, rations, clothing and medical attention;
[First Schedule.]
"last pay"-
(a) in relation to a serviceman whose service has terminated, means the amount payable to him for a month (or if he was on a daily rate of pay, for thirty-one days) in respect of the substantive rank held by him immediately before the termination of his service together with, in the case of a serviceman who is not an officer, the free services element;
(b) in the case of a serviceman who is not an officer, service and rank increments and the free services element;
"lodging" means the provision of furnished accommodation, fuel and light and personal service;
"medical board" means any medical board appointed by the Minister, or by any other person pursuant to a delegation under section 14 of this Act, to assess the degree of disablement of a serviceman;
''Minister'' means the Minister charged with responsibility for military pensions;
"officer" means a person holding a commission in the Armed Forces;
"other rank" means a person enlisted in the Armed Forces and who is not holding a commission;
"pensionable emoluments"-
(a) in respect of an officer, means the salary attached to the last substantive rank held by the officer but does not include any allowance whatsoever;
(b) in respect of another rank includes-
(i) the last pay attached to the last substantive rank held by the other rank;
and
(ii) the free services element but does not include any other emoluments whatsoever;
''pensionable service" means service in the Armed Forces (including service or employment under the Government of the Federation or of a State or any other service approved by the Minister and which has been transferred to the Armed Forces) which may be taken into account in computing a serviceman's pension under this Act;
"qualifying service" means service in the Armed Forces (including service or employment under the Government of the Federation or of a State or any other service approved by the Minister and which has been transferred to the Armed Forces) which may be taken into account in determining whether a serviceman is eligible by length of service for a pension or gratuity;
"regular commission" does not include a short service commission;
"retirement" includes discharge and also cessation of service with the Colours on transfer to the Reserve;
"serviceman" means a present member of the Armed Forces;
"short service commission" means a commission granted for a specific term of years whether with an option to extend the term or otherwise;
''termination'', in relation to a serviceman's service, means termination of full-pay service by retirement, release, discharge, demobilisation, transfer to the Reserve or otherwise howsoever;
"war service" means any or all of the following, that is-
(a) service in the Armed Forces after 27 May, 1967 and ending immediately before 17 January, 1970;
(b) service in connection with internal security operations, that is all operations in aid of civil authority in the maintenance of law and order;
(c) any other service as may be declared from time to time by order made by the President.