Nigerian Army dismisses report alleging personnel planning to protest over unpaid emoluments, poor working conditions

The Nigerian Army has dismissed an online media report, alleging that serving officers and soldiers are planning to storm Abuja, to protest over unpaid emoluments, poor working conditions and other unsubstantiated allegations.

In a statement, Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the unprofessional and irresponsible manner in which the release was made, citing faceless persons, it could have been ignored but the weighty nature of the claims demands some clarification for the sake of well-meaning Nigerians.

He said it is on record that officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army 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.

Nwachukwu said the Nigerian Army has never had it so good, given the quantum of combat and logistics equipment that have been injected into the theatres of operations, a circumstance that has evidently turned the tide against the complex array of threats facing the nation.

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“This is in addition to welfare packages introduced by the current leadership of the army. More also, aside 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 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 army 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 army personnel nationwide,” Nwachukwu said

The army spokesman added that the desperate effort by the authors of the unpatriotic report to give ethnic and religious coloration to the activities of the Nigerian Army, 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 army remains a symbol of national unity and therefore cannot afford to be divided along ethnic or religious lines.

“Suffice to state that the army under the current leadership has remained resolute in carrying out its constitutional role and will vigorously continue to implement welfare programs for the benefit of all personnel.

“Troops deployed in ongoing operational engagements are putting in their best for the nation and should be encouraged, rather than plotting disaffection amongst them. All personnel are urged to remain steadfast and unswayed by the antics of unpatriotic elements, who for selfish gains want to plunge the nation into chaos,” he said.