President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration in the past eight years remarkably transformed many areas in the Nigerian military, including remunerations, medical services, and accommodation, amongst others.
President Buhari said he came to power in 2015 when the security situation in Nigeria was greatly challenged by the activities of insurgents but his administration has made remarkable progress in the fight against insurgents, militants, oil thieves and kidnappers.
Buhari said this on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the military parade held ahead of Bola Tinubu’s inauguration.
He said, “This administration has achieved a remarkable transformation of the military in the areas of fighting power, training, operations, manpower, remunerations, and medical services. These are in addition to maintenance efficiency, accommodation, and expansion of forces. The improvements in these areas have collectively enhanced the Army’s capacity to effectively carry out its constitutional mandate.”
The President stressed that regarding troops’ welfare, his administration has “facilitated the approval of the Manual for Financial Administration which has greatly enhanced the pay and allowances of troops. This has no doubt boosted troops’ morale and enhanced their zeal to discharge their constitutional mandate”.
“So far, hundreds of new blocks of accommodation were constructed and thousands of the old housing units were renovated and remodeled in various formations and units across the country between 2016 and 2022.
“Currently, massive construction works are ongoing in the new Muhammadu Buhari Barracks, Abuja, and other barracks to provide the requisite offices, houses, and facilities to cater for the increasing strength of the Army personnel.”
“From 2017 to 2022, significant numbers of new fighting and utility vehicles along with supporting artillery guns, machine guns, rifles, and corresponding ammunition were acquired and inducted into various theatres of operations. This translates to a significant increment in the Army’s equipment holding since 2015,” Buhari said.
However, contrary to Buhari’s claim of a remarkable transformation in Nigerian soldiers’ welfare in his eight years in office, SaharaReporters in October 2022 reported how a soldier who identified himself as Sergeant Ismaila Ukwuhcodu, in an open letter to President Buhari, lamented the poor salaries of the Nigerian military officers, especially junior army personnel in the country.
The soldier revealed that to meet their financial needs, some of them got “involved in illegal duties, sabotage, arms and ammunition deal, armed robbery and kidnapping”, adding that they were also forced to spend their own money on buying uniforms, boots and other equipment.
The soldier said, “The system preaches patriotism, discipline, loyalty and dedication to duty, regrettable sir, our meagre salary makes it difficult for us to care for our families and own personal house while in active service.
“Painfully, we buy uniforms, boots and other military kits from same salary to serve Nigeria. Below is salary breakdown of your soldering per day/month.
“a. Warrant Officer’s Salary is N95,000/31 days =N3,064 per day(28 yrs in service)
b. Staff Sergeant Salary is N84,000/31 days = N2,709 per day(26 yrs in)
c. Sergeant Salary is N68,000/31 days =N2,193 per day(21 years in)
d. Corporal salary is N62,000/31 days = N2,000 per day (16 yrs in)
e. Lance Corporal N57,000/31 days = N1,838 per day (10 yrs in)
f. Private salary is N50,000/31 days = N1,612 per day (5 years in service)
“To meet financial needs, soldiers involve in illegal duties, sabotage, arms & ammunition deal, armed robbery and kidnapping. The insensitive negligence to enhance salary and welfare of soldiers is the cause of mass resignation of trained troops.
“The day soldiers will demand their right will be a sad day for the Nation, on that day, all moral sanctity would have been lost. With due respect Sir, I need respectfully request Mr President and other action addresses to please stand for principle of truth and moral sanctity by holistically and reflectively act on serial 3 above with a view to addressing salary and welfare package of SOLDIERS of the Nigeria Army.”
Similarly, on Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported how troops of the Nigerian Army of 145 Battalion in Damasak, Borno State lamented that soldiers were dying due to the poor state of their healthcare system.
Some soldiers told SaharaReporters that the state of their healthcare facility was so bad that they did not even have paracetamol in the hospital. Hence, they buy drugs from chemists and pharmacies in the town.
“Over seven months now we don't know why there is no drug in our hospital. Troops always buy drugs from the town to treat themselves,” one of them said.