The Nigerian Army has debunked a report that 25 soldiers resigned over corruption.
The Nigerian Army said the 25 soldiers resigned voluntarily, noting that it is not an aberration for the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, to approve the voluntary discharge of soldiers, who applied and satisfy the terms for discharge from the army.
The army made this known in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Brig.- Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Thursday, August 10, 2023.
Nwachukwu stated: “The Nigerian Army is compelled to respond to insinuations in a publication by Sahara Reporters, an online media, attributing the resignation of 25 soldiers to allegations of corruption against the Nigerian Army.
“While it is true that approval was given for the voluntary discharge of the soldiers, the insinuation that the soldiers are proceeding on voluntary discharge due to alleged corruption is an implausible effort to frantically dampen the morale and fighting will of the loyal, dedicated, and patriotic troops of the NA, engender disaffection in the ranks and ultimately put the nascent Nigerian Government and nation in a panic mode.
“Evidently, the medium and its owners need to be schooled to understand that the NA is not a conscript Army and that recruitment into the NA is voluntary, with extant policies on discharge and retirement of soldiers and officers respectively, like other organizations.
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“This provides its personnel the opportunity to apply for voluntary discharge or retirement, when they deem fit and meet the terms and conditions stipulated in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service Soldiers/Ratings/Airmen (Revised) 2017. It is thus, the inalienable right of personnel to voluntarily or on medical grounds apply for discharge.
“Therefore, It is not an aberration for the COAS to approve the voluntary discharge of soldiers, who willingly applied and satisfy the terms for discharge from the NA, contrary to the mischievous manipulation of the occurrence by the media in question.
“It is on record that the NA has continuously strived to provide a supportive and conducive work environment and conditions for its personnel. This is evident in the NA’s continuous efforts to improve its operational capabilities, including the injection of equipment into the theaters of operations, prompt payment of operational allowances, including the Ration Cash Allowance recently increased by the new Chief of Army Staff, massive construction of new accommodation and extensive renovation of old and dilapidated buildings.
“These are in addition to the huge financial commitment to the medical needs of wounded-in-action soldiers, including medical evacuation overseas, award of scholarship to children and wards of fallen heroes, and other unique interventions in the theatres of operations to sustain the heightening morale of troops.
“Equally important, is the deliberate implementation of Army Headquarters plan for troops’ rotation from the frontline. Hence, issues of overstay and battle fatigue are gradually being surmounted and becoming a thing of the past.”
Nwachukwu noted that the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lagbaja remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, probity and professionalism by providing exemplary and pragmatic leadership that will continue to boldly guarantee the welfare and motivation of soldier, urging Nigerians to discountenance the “manipulative insinuations peddled in the said publication as it is glaringly unsubstantiated”.
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