Army denies 243 soldiers retired over low morale

The Army spokesman noted that it is the “inalienable right” of a soldier to voluntarily or on medical grounds apply for discharge if he/she meets the terms.

By Jeffrey Agbo

The Nigerian Army has debunked reports that low morale and poor conditions of service were the reasons why 243 soldiers recently retired.

Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement noted that voluntary retirement or discharge of soldiers is a routine in the Nigerian Army.

“The allegation that soldiers of the Nigerian Army (NA) are proceeding on voluntary retirement due to alleged corruption, poor service conditions and low morale as recently reported by some outfits in the social media is nothing but a concoction of the imagination of the unrepentant enemies of the nation and mischief makers and should be outrightly discountenanced by the public,” Onyema 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.

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“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 extant policy on discharge and retirement of soldiers and officers respectively, like other organizations.

“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.”

The Army spokesman noted that it is the “inalienable right” of a soldier to voluntarily or on medical grounds apply for discharge if he/she meets 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 discharge from the NA, as being unprofessionally manipulated by some media,” he said.

Onyema added that the reports were aimed at deflating the high morale of soldiers.

He listed some of the recent interventions by the Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya on troops’ welfare, which include car loans, housing loans, extensive construction of new accomodations, massive renovation of old and dilapidated accommodations, building of befitting residences.