The Nigerian Army has debunked the report by some media platforms, claiming that some officers are panning a protest in Abuja over unpaid emoluments, poor working conditions and other unsubstantiated allegations.
Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, in a press release said that the Nigerian Army under Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya’s leadership has experienced exceptional positive changes in the moral and physical components of the force.
Nwachukwu, however, said the force has not had it soo good, but a “quantum of combat and logistics equipment has been injected into the theatres of operations” to help force member carry out their duty.
He further explained that the Nigerian Army now enjoy welfare packages, prompt payment of salaries, and operational allowance, among other things, courtesy of the current administration.
“The attention of the Nigerian Army(NA) has been drawn to yet another mischievous report peddled by some online media, alleging serving officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army are planning to storm Abuja, to protest over unpaid emoluments, poor working conditions and other unsubstantiated allegations.
“Judging by the unprofessional and irresponsible manner in which the release was made, citing faceless persons, it could have been ignored. However, the weighty nature of the claims demands some clarification for the sake of well-meaning Nigerians.
“It is on record that officers and soldiers of the NA under the leadership of Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, like never before, have witnessed exceptional positive changes in the moral and physical components of the force.
“It is, therefore, crucial to state in very clear terms, that the NA has never had it so good, given the quantum of combat and logistics equipment that has been injected into the theatres of operations, a circumstance that has evidently turned the tide against the complex array of threats facing the nation.
“This is in addition to welfare packages introduced by the current leadership of the NA. More also, aside from the prompt payment of salaries and operational allowances, welfare flights have been inaugurated, which significantly reduced the burden of troops travelling in and out of the theatres to see their loved ones.
“This is also in addition to a huge commitment on the medical needs of wounded-in-action officers and soldiers and the barracks communities. Scholarships are also being awarded to children of officers and soldiers killed in action in the ongoing operations.
It is worthy of note, that across all NA Barracks there are deliberate efforts at providing conducive working and living conditions for troops and their families.
“These interventions in the form of massive barracks construction and renovation works, with visible footprints are bringing succour to NA personnel nationwide.
“The desperate effort by the authors of this unpatriotic report to give ethnic and religious coloration to the activities of the NA is nothing but an inglorious attempt to woo unsuspecting members of the public with bigotry bargains, laced heavily with evil intent. It must be made crystal clear that the NA remains a symbol of national unity and therefore cannot afford to be divided along ethnic or religious lines, the statement partly reads.
