Nigerian Soldiers Accuse Army Commander In Kaduna Of Corruption, Diversion Of Allowances
Army
Some personnel attached to 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna State, have accused their Commanding Officer (CO) of corruption and financial mismanagement.
According to the soldiers, who spoke to SaharaReporters, the authorities of the division led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) had been diverting their allowances.
They called on President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, to save them and their family members from the commander.
“Please we, soldiers from 1 Division in Kaduna, have something bothering us, there is this money for special assignment given to us; it’s N20,000 monthly but the 1 Division in Kaduna have refused to pay us. They are owing us, while other divisions have already paid the personnel under them.
“We don’t even know what’s happening, no signal explaining why the money hasn’t been paid since on 1st of October till now. You know we dare not challenge or ask them about the allowance. Nigerians should help us to beg them to pay us,” one of the soldiers said.
Earlier in the year, some personnel of the Nigerian Army accused President Buhari of failing to check corruption and financial mismanagement among some top military officers while soldiers continue to cry on a daily basis.
The soldiers in an open letter to the President accused top army officers of corruption and extortion.
They said despite their numerous complaints, nobody is saying anything about their unpaid allowances by the military finance corps.
The letter read, “We want to start by saying that it is a shame on General Muhammadu Buhari for failing to address the financial mismanagement of Nigerian soldiers while they continue to cry on the (sic) daily basis.
“Soldiers of the Nigerian Army have complained severally (sic) how their money is being short pay (sic) by the Army Finance and nobody is saying anything about it.
“Nigerian soldiers have complained severally (sic) how they have been given 20% of the 100% allowance which was signed into law by the President Buhari since (sic) 2017 which is known as MAFA. No one is saying anything and the President is not interested to follow up or investigating (sic) the matter.
“The salary of our soldiers is being paid through POS, phone transfer in connection with banks by the army finance department. Our soldiers have been crying but no one is saying anything.
“Our Soldiers continue to buy their uniforms themselves and every other kit needed to protect the people and the nation. No uniform allowance, no boot allowance, and nobody are (sic) saying anything.
“The soldiers we don't see as anything are the ones that are keeping this country moving. They are using their lives as a wages (sic) between Nigerians and our adversaries. When these boys will strike, they won't be able to enjoy all the money they are stealing and hiding for (sic) their children. When they will strike, running to another country will be too late for us. When they will strike, they (sic) won't be room for amendment.
“Pay our soldiers their money in full and do it now. Army finance should not have anything to do with our soldiers’ salaries and allowances.”
Efforts to get the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu to react were not successful as he did not answer calls made to his mobile phone nor reply to the text message sent to him.
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