The RCA takes care of the feeding of Nigerian military personnel in lieu of “central feeding."
Amidst the harsh economic conditions, the Nigerian Army has announced the upward review of Ration Cash Allowance for its personnel, taking it from N1200 to N1500, SaharaReporters has exclusively gathered.
The RCA takes care of the feeding of Nigerian military personnel in lieu of “central feeding."
Where the central feeding arrangement is available, the affected personnel are fed centrally.
“RCA is applicable under the following conditions: 1. Military personnel on residential courses at military institutions outside their normal place of abode.
“2. Military personnel on 24-hour guard.
“3. Military personnel on hospital admission in military hospitals.
“4. Military personnel on approved military exercises and operations.
“5. Military personnel on escort or temporary duty lasting 24 hours or more outside their duty station.”
In the signal exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, the move was said to be in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s philosophy to transform the army into a well trained, equipped and highly motivated force.
The signal was dated January 29, 2024 and signed by E.E. Emekah, a Major General on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja.
“In line with the COAS Command Philosophy to transform the NA into a welltrained, equipped and highly motivated force, the COAS has further increased the Ration Cash Allowance (RCA) of our dedicated troops from N1,200 to N1,500 per day with effect from 1 Feb 24,” it read.
“This review is part of his ongoing commitment to the welfare of troops and the continuous enhancement of their operational capabilities to build morale to a very high battle-winning level.
“It is pertinent to state that all formations and unit commanders should note that the monthly sustenance for Feb 24 has been worked with the new rate by the department.
“In view of the above, I am directed to enjoin all formations and unit commanders to ensure they reflect the review of the RCA by enhancing the feeding of their troops. Please acknowledge receipt.”
SaharaReporters had in July 2023 exclusively reported how the army approved the review of the monthly ration allowance from N1,000 to N1,200 for its personnel.
The action comes amid security challenges the military is currently combating in most parts of the country.
SaharaReporters has done several reports on soldiers lamenting poor feeding, poor salaries, poor medical treatment and poor welfare packages in general despite abandoning their families, putting their lives on the line with massive promises by the Nigerian government.
On December 11, SaharaReporters reported how troops attached to 145 Taskforce Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Damasak, Borno State for Operation Hadi Kai lamented the alleged misuse of power against their rights by their Commanding Officer.
The soldiers who spoke on condition of anonymity over fear of victimization also lamented acute hunger.
The soldiers who lamented that they were not being properly fed, called for the immediate intervention of President Bola Tinubu and military chiefs to address the issue of poor treatment of soldiers on the front lines, sacrificing their lives daily.
Apart from not being given good food, the soldiers lamented that many of their colleagues had been killed by terrorists because the military lacked adequate firepower and equipment to combat the insurgents.
In what seems to be the affirmation of the claims made by the soldiers, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa few days after the publication said, “The issue of ration cash allowance where we feed, any time we are on operations, I, as a General I’m being fed on N1,200 per day with my soldiers, from the first General to the last soldier, the same amount. That is what we manage with.
“My soldiers collect less than N50,000 for a salary a month. We all know the situation on ground. My appeal is for them to have salaries that are worth the work they are doing. We deserve to have that so that it will encourage them to do more.
“We have a lot of them that have been injured, families separated for a very long time. These are the morale aspect of it that we check to actually ginger the troops to want to do more.”
There have been allegations of corruption in the Nigerian Army which some of the soldiers have blamed on their loss of interest.
According to them, the army is the epitome of deep-seated corruption.
They noted that corruption is affecting the fight against the anti-terrorism war in the North-East.