Nigerian soldiers deployed to the North-East for counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram have raised alarm.
The alarm is over alleged underpayment of their welfare allowances.
According to findings by reports, Nigerian soldiers say they currently receive only ₦20,000 to ₦30,000 out of the ₦100,000 Scarce Skills Allowance (SSA) approved for them by the Federal Government in 2017.
One soldier lamented: “Yes, the Federal Government approved ₦100,000 per soldier, but we only receive ₦20,000. The Air Force recently raised theirs to ₦50,000, but the Army has refused. This underpayment started under former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.).”
The SSA was introduced in November 2017 as part of the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA).
It was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also, it clearly provides for ₦100,000 monthly allowance for all military personnel, irrespective of rank.
However, soldiers insist that the Army has consistently violated the guidelines, paying privates to corporals ₦20,000, sergeants and staff sergeants ₦25,000, and warrant officers ₦30,000.
They also allege that uniform and boot allowances have not been paid at all.
These complaints echo similar reports from 2021, when soldiers accused the Army leadership of diverting welfare funds.
At that time, troops claimed that both SSA and uniform allowances had either been unpaid or slashed.
The aggrieved soldiers are now urging President Bola Tinubu to direct anti-corruption agencies.
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This includes the EFCC and ICPC, to investigate the non-payment and possible diversion of their welfare funds.
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