Resignation of 196 soldiers not caused by corruption, poor welfare, Army clarifies

Says personnel at liberty to disengage voluntarily

The Nigerian Army has explained that the recent “allegation of widespread resignation due to poor welfare is unfounded and irrational.” The Army said it remained “steadfast in its commitment to the welfare of its personnel” and described as appalling “concerted attempts to distort the truth for sensationalism.”

The clarification came as the Army directed 196 soldiers to embark on terminal leave from November 1, 2024. The directive was a sequel to the soldiers submitting resignation letters.

The soldiers were reportedly drawn from various army formations nationwide and were mainly rank-and-files. A memo sighted by The Guardian, dated August 23 and signed by Brigadier General O.H. Musa, said the soldiers’ final disengagement will take effect on November 30, 2024.

It reads in part: “In accordance with the provisions of References A and B, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) vides Reference C approved the voluntary discharge of the above-named soldier and 195 others listed in Annex A. The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave from November 1, 2024, while their disengagement date takes effect from November 30, 2024.

“Accordingly, I am directed to respectfully request you to cause the affected soldiers’ units to ensure that the discharging soldiers complete the following forms as enclosed and forward the same to this department no later than September 6, 2024.”

But the Director of Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said: “The recent publication by an online media and similar media platforms, alleging mass resignation of Nigerian Army soldiers over corruption, low morale and the like is not only misleading but also a deliberate attempt to sow the seeds of disaffection and acrimony, as well as denigrate the patriotic service of personnel and reputation of the Nigerian Army.”

Titled ‘Insinuation of mass resignation of Nigerian Army soldiers due to corruption is baseless, irrational,’ the statement said it is crucial to clarify that service in the Nigerian Army, like most militaries worldwide, is voluntary. It added that this gives individuals the freedom and liberty to disengage at will.

“Personnel are at liberty to disengage from time to time in accordance with procedures laid down in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service. Discharge from the Nigerian Army is routine and in line with procedures.

“Only in an unorganised army would the discharge of personnel be handled haphazardly; hence, the compilation and release of names routinely, as must have been observed in the case of the Nigerian Army over the years.

“This process allows for personnel who are about to either mandatorily or voluntarily disengage to adequately prepare and process entitlements, emoluments, pensions, and gratuity for the period of service to the nation.”

The statement claimed that “the hasty and haphazardly compiled report” did not follow due diligence in ascertaining reasons for the discharge of the personnel.

According to the Army, the reasons for personnel discharge are confidential but can include voluntary disengagement, medical reasons, pursuit of other career opportunities, community service, and more.

It said statements suggesting that soldiers are resigning en masse due to welfare issues do not reflect the actual situation. It described the recruitment process for the Nigerian Army as highly competitive and often oversubscribed.

The Army clarified that personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a top priority under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

It noted that significant progress has been achieved in the past year under the current leadership to enhance the living standards and overall well-being of personnel and their families.

It said: “A prime example is the Affordable Housing Option for All Soldiers Scheme (aka AHOOAS), which has been launched across the nation, allowing personnel to choose where to live and own decent post-service accommodation. This initiative underscores the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring personnel enjoy dignified post-service life.

“Furthermore, the Nigerian Army is currently undertaking massive rehabilitation of existing and construction of new infrastructure across formations, units, and barracks to ensure a suitable working and living atmosphere for troops and their families.
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Additionally, allowances have been regularly paid as at when due for soldiers deployed in operational theatres. This is aside from the regular free airlifting of troops proceeding on leaves and passes and free medical evacuation of injured soldiers for local and foreign treatments.

“Military hospitals and medical centres are equally receiving remodelling and upgrading of equipment for efficient service delivery to personnel and their families. These are in addition to combat enablers injected into all theatres of operations across the country to enhance troops’ operational effectiveness and ensure adequate force protection.”

The Army noted that efforts to develop personnel capacity are also receiving appropriate focus, with officers and soldiers regularly participating in training activities to enhance their capabilities in line with global best practices.

The Army said that given these efforts, it is undeniable that the leadership has consistently and steadily acted as promised in the COAS command philosophy, aimed at transforming the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force to fulfil constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment.

The Army added: “The allegation of widespread resignation due to poor welfare is unfounded and irrational. The Nigerian Army remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare of its personnel. It is, however, appalling to witness concerted attempts to distort the truth for sensationalism in the media.

“We call on media organisations to verify information before publication and avoid being tools of disinformation. The Nigerian Army will continue to prioritise the welfare and morale of its personnel, ensuring they remain motivated and fully equipped to carry out their duties in defence of the nation.”

Similarly, Anthony Ozemhoya, Assistant Director of Combat Development, downplayed the mass resignation and faulted how the media reported it, saying: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria is not a conscript force. People join voluntarily and can resign based on the terms and conditions of service. Whoever put this online aims to cause more harm to the system.”