NA Troops at Warfront Decry Welfare, Promotion Disparities
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NA Troops at Warfront Decry Welfare, Promotion Disparities
By Umar Yunusa
The Nigerian Army (NA) soldiers have appealed to the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya to direct the full implementation of MAFA Scarce Skill Combat Duty allowance approved by the Federal Government since 2017 which is currently being enjoyed by other sister services.
The concerned soldiers raised this concern in a statement and made available to INCNews247 in Maiduguri, Borno state.
They said, the NA has failed to implement the non-regular allowances of its personnel despite increment in budgetary allocation of the said allowances.
According to them, other sister services including Nigerian Air Force and Navy had implemented the said allowances for their personnel, urging the COAS to give it a total consideration.
The statement partly read thus, “Our COAS, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya sir, we your soldiers in the frontline and across the nation and our beloved families’ back home wish to first and foremost congratulate you on your well deserved and prompt appointment as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff for the Nigerian Army and indeed Nigerian Armed Forces.
“Your contributions and great achievement in the security and defence of our dear nation and other several services rendered to humanity since your commission into the Nigerian Army have over the years stands to speak for you as a forthright, focused and special breed with high sense of responsibility.
“This attested to the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari at this very crucial moment of the nation’s history chose you as a credible replacement to the late COAS, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru who recently died in the tragic air mishap that claimed his life along 10 other senior officers and crew members on board of the ill-fated aircraft along Kaduna Airport (may their gallant souls rest in peace). Amen.
“We know you are just trying to settle down having been appointed by the President and confirmed by the National Assembly to swiftly take charge of the enormous security challenges confronting the nation.
“As a warrior, an astute administrator, a great leader, human resources manager, a man of conscience, and our leader (COAS), we believe you place high premium in the welfare and wellbeing of your troops thus the reason for this appeal to draw your attention to reconsider the review and full implementation of the current scarce skill combat duty allowance approved by the Federal Government since 2017.
“Sir, Since the approval of the allowance by the Federal Government for the Armed Forces, our colleagues in the Nigerian Air Force and Navy, to the best of our knowledge have been receiving allowance far above the amount paid to us in the same Armed Forces.
“It is worthy to bring to your knowledge that while a PTE-CPL in the Nigerian Army receives 20, 000, SGT-SSGT- 25, 000, WO-MWO-30, 000 and AWO-50, 000, an Aircraft man of the Air Force equivalent to a Private (PTE) and a Navy seaman receives about 80, 000-100, 000 in addition to other allowances paid them monthly.
“The disparity in the pay and allowances among us as personnel of the same Armed Forces does not reflect the harmonise standard that we were told was suppose to ensure uniformity in the welfare and pay and also reduce poverty among the other ranks to bring about sense of oneness as member of the same Armed Forces.
“This development has led to a huge difference in our allowances and inferiority of the Soldiers against our counterpart in the Air Force and Navy alike.”
The group also queried the Nigerian Army Policy on promotion of soldiers where a soldier spends about 5-6 years on a particular rank without being promoted placing him with his counterpart (mate) from the Navy and NAF far above his rank wise.
They, therefore, appealed to the COAS to come to their aid.
“In view of this incongruity, we humbly appeal to you to look into the current pay level for soldiers especially the allowances approved by MAFA, and our plight for possible consideration and upward review of the approved Scarce Skill allowances especially as it affects our moral and our families.”
The group promised to work inline with COAS vision of defending the country against non state actors and assured of its total commitment and unalloyed loyalty to the COAS and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Recalled that the House of Representative had resolved to probe the NA on the alleged nonpayment of non regular allowances to its soldiers since 2017.
The House has since mandated its Committee on Army to investigate the disbursement of non regular allowances to Army personnel from 2017 till date and report back to the house within four weeks.
