A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi, has called on the Nigerian Army to make its payroll system public as controversy intensifies over claims regarding soldiers’ welfare and remuneration.
Olamilekan, a former lance corporal, made the demand in a video released on Tuesday, shortly after the Army dismissed his earlier allegations as false and misleading. In the footage, he presented bank transaction alerts which he said reflected his earnings during active service.
According to him, his monthly salary stood at N112,061.59, alongside a N20,000 allowance he described as a “grumbling allowance.” He added that an operational allowance of N45,000 is only paid to personnel deployed to active conflict zones such as Maiduguri, while a N6,000 security allowance is also tied to operational postings.
He maintained that soldiers not deployed to active operations receive only their basic salary and the N20,000 allowance, stressing that operational benefits are not permanent entitlements.
Olamilekan further alleged that some personnel are compelled to purchase personal protective equipment, including helmets and fragmentation jackets, out of pocket claims he urged Nigerians to verify through contacts within the military.
Despite his assertions, he stated that his intention was not to discredit the Army but to present what he described as verifiable facts backed by evidence.
In response, the Nigerian Army, through its Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anaele, dismissed the allegations as baseless.
The Army insisted that all personnel are adequately equipped through established logistics systems, noting that uniforms, arms, and protective gear are issued before deployment. It also maintained that soldiers receive consolidated salaries along with uniform, operational, and mission-specific allowances paid directly into their accounts.
The military further clarified that Olamilekan’s dismissal was due to repeated acts of indiscipline, including breaches of the Armed Forces Social Media Policy and unauthorised media engagements, and not to the claims made in his videos.
The development has sparked renewed public debate over transparency, welfare, and accountability within Nigeria’s military system.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
No comments:
Post a Comment