January 28, 2002
Non-payment of entitlements due to Nigerian soldiers and officers who took part in international peace keeping operations is a source of unease in the nation s armed forces, Sunday Vanguard learnt at the weekend.
And military authorities were said to be scared stiff that the development could degenerate into discontent among the rank and file of the armed forces.
Each of the affected soldiers is entitled to 900 dollars per month while 1,200 dollars is due to each officer affected although the authorities deduct 300 dollars from each participant s pay for the use of the military in maintenance and rehabilitation of equipment. Affected military personnel drawn from Army, Navy and Air Force formations in different parts of the country who were said to have completed their participation on peace keeping operations across the world were, according to sources, being owed between four and six months entitlements.
The sources ascribed the source of unease in the armed forces over the matter to the belief that the United Nations (UN), financier of the operations, released funds for the payment of the entitlements several months ago but that the funds were being withheld.
"The money is usually paid in bulk to the Federal Government by the UN for disbursement just like the world body does to other countries contributing troops to international peace keeping operations", one of the sources told Sunday Vanguard.
The source continued: "Unfortunately, in the case of Nigeria, there have been several complaints that the Nigerian government collects the money and puts it into the Central Bank while the officers and soldiers are made to suffer unendingly".
"This is a very dangerous trend for the military. This matter is seriously affecting morale and the soldiers are not happy. Even, the service chiefs are not happy about the situation. Something has to be done fast because this is issue of money which was merited", it added.
When Sunday Vanguard contacted the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Alexander Ogomudia, over the issue, he said "I am aware that our soldiers are being owed some amount of money, but I don t know where you got your information that it is for six months or more."
"I am also aware that government is doing everything to offset the allowances which is for a few months. I have received assurances that the money will be paid soon."
However, the question asked by soldiers was how long it will take government to release their money which they believed had been paid to the Federal Government several months back and which soldiers of other contingents from other countries were said to have since collected.
Sunday Vanguard investigations in Abuja revealed, however, that President Olusegun Obasanjo may have personally intervened in the matter having discovered that the Ministry of Finance was responsible for the problem.
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