Army: We didn’t embezzle troops manning Chinese company’s allowance

The Nigerian Army has denied diverting the Ration Cash Allowance (RCA) of the troops deployed to provide security to Chinese nationals working at the Zungeru Hydro Electricity Dam in Niger State.

The army described as fake, the claims that the troops had not been paid their RCA for three months by their former General Officer Commanding, Maj.-Gen. Alabi and Brig.-Gen. Jamiu Jimoh.

The army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen., Onyema Nwachukwu, who made this known in a statement on Monday, September 25, 2023, said the troops at the Chinese company in Niger State have always been paid in tranches by the Nigerian Army.

Nwachukwu stated: “Accordingly, the last tranche payment of RCA by the affected institution for the troops deployed, elapsed on 28 February 2023.

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“While the next tranche of payment is being processed, Army Headquarters has paid the troops covering the period 1 March – 30 June 2023 in a bid to ameliorate the operating conditions of the troops and keep them at par with deployments elsewhere.

“Additionally, to cushion the effect of the tranche mode of payment, provision was made to feed the troops daily and this has been a routine.

“The troops’ RCA was therefore not diverted by any of the senior officers named in the publication or anyone else, as wrongly portrayed.

“Suffice to state, that the NA remains committed to upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in the administration of the welfare of troops in all its operations and other endeavours, as contained in the Command Philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff ‘To transform the NA into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment’.”

The Star