Governor to commanding officer or according to such regulations as the Governor may from time to time prescribe. 13. The Governor may from time to time, in consultation with make regula- the officer commanding, make such rules and regulations consistent tions, &c. with this Ordinance, and subject to the provisions thereof relative to the Regiment, as may be necessary for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease, and to render the Regiment efficient in the discharge of its duties, and for the discipline, good order, and guidance of the Regiment, for the form and method of enlistment of the persons constituting the same, and for their general government, the services required of them, their conduct in the performance thereof, their distribution, posting, and removal from station to station and their inspection, and for the description, supply, use, and disposal of arms, accoutrements, clothing, necessaries and other warlike stores to be furnished to them, and also with relation to the fiscal duties to be performed by the pay-masters, quarter-masters and other officers with relation to the Regiment, and generally for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Ordinance. Every such order shall come into operation upon the publication thereof in the Gazette or at such time as shall be in such order provided. The Governor may alter or amend consistently with this Ordinance rules and regulations made under this section or may revoke the same. First term of PART II.-ENLISTMENT, DISCHARGE, AND SERVICE. 14. Every private shall be enlisted for the first term of engageengagement. ment to serve in the Regiment for six years, or such less period as may from time to time be fixed by the Governor, the term to be reckoned from the day on which the recruit shall have been finally approved for service and taken on the strength of the Regiment. Re-engagement and con tinuance in service. Every artillery and maxim-gun carrier shall be enlisted for a first term of engagement for such period, not exceeding two years, as the Governor from time to time shall fix, and every groom and grass-cutter shall be enlisted for a first term of engagement for such period, not exceeding six months, as the Governor from time to time shall fix. 15. Any non-commissioned officer or private of good character who at any time has completed or is within six months of completing the first term of his engagement may, with the approval of his commanding officer, re-engage to serve for a second term of six years or less from the expiration of his first period. Any non-commissioned officer or private who may be appointed bandsman shall, at the time of his appointment, with the approval of his commanding officer, be liable to re-engage for such period as shall complete twelve years' service with the colours. Any non-commissioned officer or private of good character who has completed at least ten years' service may, with the approval of his commanding officer, re-engage for such period as shall complete a total period of twenty-one years' service, reckoning from the time of his first enlistment; And upon completing such period of twenty-one years' service, he may, if he shall so desire, and with the approval of his commanding officer and of the Governor, continue in the Regiment in the same manner in all respects as if his term of service were still unexpired, except that it shall be lawful for him to claim his discharge at the expiration of three months after he has given notice to the officer under whose command he is serving of his wish to be discharged. Every artillery and maxim-gun carrier who has completed two years' service may, with the approval of his commanding officer, re-engage to serve for a further period of two years or less, and every groom or grass-cutter who has completed six months' service may, with the approval of his commanding officer, re-engage to serve for a further period of six months or less. ment. 16. Any non-commissioned officer or private who, being entitled Conditions of to his discharge at the expiration of his first or second period of re-engageservice re-engages for further service with the approval of his commanding officer, will be allowed to proceed on six months' furlough, and will receive during that period the half pay of his rank: Provided that such leave may be postponed to such time as in the opinion of the Governor the exigencies of the public service may require. Any non-commissioned officer or private who may re-engage to complete twelve years' service with the colours, on appointment as bandsman, will be allowed to proceed on six months' furlough on his completing six years' service, and will receive during that time the half pay of his rank. If a non-commissioned officer or private offers to re-engage within six months after having received a certificate of discharge, he will, on re-engagement, be entitled to the advantages to which he was entitled with regard to good conduct badges, pay, and rank at the time of his discharge. If, however, a longer period than six months from the date of his discharge has elapsed, then it will be discretionary with his commanding officer to allow the service, or part of the service, of such person previous to the date of such re-engagement to reckon towards good conduct pay and badges; the question of the rank in which the non-commissioned officer or private re-engages being also left to the discretion of the' commanding officer. 17. Every man enlisting or re-engaging in the Regiment as Declaration aforesaid shall, previous to his being approved or re-engaged, make of enliste ment, &c. Prolongation of service terminating during war. Discharge on Non-commissioned officers and privates subject to all regulations until formal discharge. Discharge the following declaration, and shall confirm such declaration by oath in his native language in such manner as he may declare to be most binding upon his conscience : I, A.B., do hereby solemnly and sincerely declare and promise that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Edward VII., his heirs and successors, and that I will faithfully serve and defend His Majesty the King, his heirs and successors, and the Government of the Colony of Southern Nigeria, for a period of years, provided His Majesty should so long require my services, and will obey all orders of His Majesty and of the officers placed over me, and subject myself to all Ordinances, rules, and regulations relating to the Southern Nigeria Regiment of the West African Frontier Force now in force, or which may from time to time be in force, within the said period. The declaration and oath shall be made on parade before the senior officer of the Regiment for the time being at the station at which the declaration and oath are made, and shall be preserved as a part of the enlistment papers of every recruit. 18. Any non-commissioned officer or private whose period of service expires during a state of war, insurrection or hostilities may be detained, and his service prolonged for such further period, not exceeding twelve months, as the Governor may direct. 19. Subject to the provisions of section fifteen and of the last preceding section, every non-commissioned officer and private who has completed his period or periods of engagement or service according to the provisions of this Ordinance, shall be discharged by his commanding officer, unless at the expiration of any such period or periods he is undergoing punishment for, or stands charged with the commission of, any offence under this Ordinance, and in case he is undergoing such punishment, or is charged with any such offence, his service shall be prolonged and his discharge deferred until such punishment shall have terminated, or until he has undergone his trial, and any punishment awarded in respect of the offence with which he is charged. 20. Every non-commissioned officer and private, until he has received a certificate of discharge shall remain subject to all the provisions of this Ordinance and to all rules and regulations made. in pursuance thereof. 21.—(1) A non-commissioned officer or private may be dis charged by his commanding officer at any time during the currency when unfit for of any term of engagement:service or on being (a) When pronounced by the medical officer mentally or dismissed. physically unfit for further service. (b) When sentenced to be dismissed the Regiment for mis conduct. (c) When he is considered by his commanding officer to be inefficient as a soldier. (d) On reduction of establishment. (2) Every artillery and maxim-gun carrier, groom or grasscutter may be discharged by his commanding officer at any time, and shall at any time be entitled to obtain his discharge at his own request. service. 22. In reckoning the service of any non-commissioned officer or Rules for private for discharge, either in the case of limited engagements, reckoning whether for the first or second term, or for the total period of twenty-one years' service, there shall be excluded therefrom all periods during which he has been absent from his duty from any of the following causes:— (a) Imprisonment for any cause save that of detention awaiting any trial which results in the acquittal or discharge of the prisoner. (b) Imprisonment with hard labour. (c) Desertion for any period. (d) Absence without leave exceeding forty-eight hours. 23. Whenever any non-commissioned officer or private ceases to Consequence belong to the Regiment, either by being dismissed therefrom, or of discharge by being discharged on the termination of his period of engage- or dismissal. nient, or as unfit for further service, or on reduction of establishment or in the case of artillery and maxim-gun carriers, grooms and grass-cutters at his own request, all powers and authorities vested in him shall immediately cease and determine, and he shall, before a certificate of discharge is delivered to him, deliver over his arms, ammunition, accoutrements, uniform, and other appointments which may have been supplied to him by the Colonial Government to such person and at such time and place as shall be directed by the officer under whose command he may be at the time of ceasing to belong to the Regiment; provided that a soldier discharged before the expiration of one year for any fault, or who is not likely to make an efficient soldier, shall not take away with him any arms, or any articles of uniform or equipment described by any rules or regulations as personal property of soldiers. 24. Every non-commissioned officer under the rank of sergeant- Good conduct major, and every private, who shall have served for three years pay. without having incurred a sentence of : (a) Imprisonment or confinement to barracks for more than seven days; Gratuities on (b) Imprisonment with hard labour for any term; shall be entitled to bear one good conduct badge, and to receive 25. Gratuities at the following rates, in lieu of pension, shall be discharge, &c. granted to non-commissioned officers and privates on discharge after a continuous good service extending over a period of twelve years, viz. : To sergeants-major, twenty pounds. To sergeants, ten pounds. To corporals, eight pounds. To lance-corporals and privates, six pounds. And at the following rates after a total continuous good service extending over twenty-one years, viz. :— To sergeants-major, thirty pounds. To sergeants, fifteen pounds. To lance-corporals and privates, nine pounds. No increased rate of gratuity shall be paid in respect of any period of service in excess of a total service of twenty-one years; and no non-commissioned officer or private who has received a gratuity on discharge after twelve years' service shall, in the event of his afterwards re-enlisting, receive in respect of his service after such re-enlistment, any higher gratuity than may, together with such first gratuity, be equal to the gratuity which he would have earned by continuous service for twenty-one years. Where any con-commissioned officer or private is discharged as unfit for further service, or on account of reduction of establishment, before completing such continuous period of twelve years or of twenty-one years as aforesaid, he may receive such proportion of the gratuity which he would have earned if he had completed the period of service he is then passing through as his commanding officer may in his discretion determine, and in the event of the death of any non-commissioned officer or private before the receipt by him of such gratuity, it shall be lawful for the Governor to direct and cause the amount thereof to be paid to or for the benefit of the widow or widows or child or children, or any next-of-kin of the noncommissioned officer or private so dying, on such condition, and, if to or for the benefit of more than one person, in such proportions as to the Governor shall seem fit. |