SOLDIERS GRUMBLE OVER UNPAID JULY SALARIES, CRITICIZES FG
Read Time:2 Minute, 21 Second
Some members of the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force protested the federal government’s delay in paying their July paychecks on Tuesday night, amid the nation’s severe inflation and rising hunger levels.
The soldiers in Abuja who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said that they and their coworkers are dissatisfied with President Muhammadu Buhari led government and service chiefs for refusing to pay them their salaries for July 2022, especially given the extraordinary amount of work they have done since the Kuje prison break and the most recent attacks by non-state actors throughout the nation, particularly in the capital city of Abuja.
A soldier remarked, “This is becoming the norm.” Our April salary was postponed this year in the same manner by the federal government, and they are doing it again. The military leaders and President Buhari’s refusal to pay our salaries when they are due perplexes us.
A different soldier stated, “We’re exhausted, but it’s bad that we can’t moan.” We are being mistreated and oppressed, yet there is nowhere for us to air our complaints. I’ve had it with this; it’s getting to be too much. Even though we put our time, effort, and lives on the line for this, if this is how the government continues to treat us, I might simply leave the Army.
Despite postponing our salaries, a third soldier, a female member of the Nigerian Navy, remarked, “I wonder how the government wants us to stay energetic and go about our task with rigor.” It is extremely sad that only Nigerian soldiers anywhere in the world experience such humiliation from their government. What would it cost to compensate those who risk their lives to defend a nation of more than 200 million?
However, when our correspondent contacted Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, spokesman for the Nigerian Army, he observed that some officers had already been paid today, Wednesday, August 3, 2022, and advised those who had not to exercise patience as salary payments were still being made.
Onyema said, “There was a little delay in the payment. However, salaries are now being paid. Many personnel, including myself, have received their salaries today.
“I use this opportunity to appeal to those whose banks are yet to pay them to be a little patient as the payment is ongoing”.
Naval spokesperson, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, who spoke to our correspondent via WhatsApp, simply noted that Naval officers had been paid today.
Ayo-Vhaugan said, “I have been paid. The Navy has been paid. The payment was disbursed yesterday, but the receipts of alerts vary with each bank. I, however, got mine this morning.”
Efforts to reach the Air Force spokespersons, Air Comm. Edward Gabkwet, proved futile as of the time of filing this report. When contacted, he refused to comment on the issue.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0