Retirement of 243 officers not due to poor service conditions, low morale – Army

Contrary to reports by some media outfits (not The Guardian), and on social media that soldiers of the Nigeria Army (NA) are proceeding on voluntary retirement due to alleged corruption, poor service conditions, and low morale, the NA High Command says that nothing could be farther from the truth.

The spokesman of the NA, Brig General Onyema Nwachukwu, who described the allegations as untrue, described them as mere “concoctions of the imagination of the unrepentant enemies of the nation and mischief makers, and should be discountenanced outright by the public.”

General Nwachukwu said: “The subjective and unethical report is a distraction and another failed attempt at dampening the morale and fighting will of the loyal, dedicated, and patriotic fighting force of the NA.

“Perhaps these impenitent mischief makers need to be schooled to understand that the NA is not a conscript army and that recruitment into the NA is voluntary with an extant policy on discharge and retirement of soldiers and officers respectively, like other organisations.

“This provides its personnel the opportunity to apply for voluntary discharge when they deem fit and meet the terms and conditions as 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, if they meet the terms. It is therefore not an aberration that the COAS granted approval for 91 NA/32/4792 WO Ndagana Ishiaku and 242 others to voluntarily discharged from the NA, as being unprofessionally manipulated by some media.

“Given the pedigree and mannerism of the publisher of the ill-fated report, it is clear, that it is targeted at deflating the high morale of troops, by downplaying recent critical interventions by the COAS Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya on troops’ welfare, which include car loans, housing loans, extensive construction of new accommodation, a massive renovation of old and dilapidated accommodation, the building of befitting residences and issuing of vehicles to Regimental Sergeant Majors, scholarship awards to children and wards of fallen heroes and other unique interventions in the theatres of operation to sustain the heightening morale of troops.

“These interventions evidently account for troops’ game-changing onslaught in the Noth East. It must also be mentioned, that the quantum of equipment that has been injected into the theatres and prompt payment of operational allowances have all turned the tide against the insurgents.

“Also worthy of note is the welfare flight for troops, which has significantly reduced the burden of troops travelling in and out of the theatres, in addition to huge commitment to the medical needs of wounded-in-action soldiers and the barracks communities.

“The COAS once again congratulates the discharging personnel for their gallantry, patriotism, loyalty, and courage while in service and wishes them the very best as they successfully exit active service from the NA.