Nigerian Soldiers F+ghting Boko Haram Lament About Allegedly Getting Paid N20,000 Out of N100,000 Monthly Allowance Fresh findings by SaharaReporters have revealed that Nigerian soldiers deployed to the North-East for counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram receive only N20,000 monthly from the N100,000 Scarce Skills Allowance (SSA) approved by the Federal Government. Several soldiers who spoke on the matter expressed frustration that, despite official approvals dating back to 2017, they are still being denied their full entitlements. “Yes, the Federal Government approved N100,000 per soldier, but we only receive N20,000,” one soldier said. “The Air Force recently raised theirs to N50,000, but the Army has refused. This underpayment started under former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.).” The SSA was one of several welfare packages introduced in November 2017 by former President Muhammadu Buhari under the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA). The document explicitly provides for N100,000 monthly payment to all military personnel, regardless of rank. However, soldiers told SaharaReporters they are still being paid between N20,000 and N30,000, in clear vi%lation of the guidelines. This revelation echoes similar allegations published in 2021, when troops accused the Army leadership under Buratai of diverting allowances. At the time, soldiers complained that their Uniform and Boot Allowance, along with the SSA approved since 2017, had either been unpaid or grossly reduced. One soldier explained: “The Scarce Skills Allowance approved by the President in 2017 was N100,000, but the Army only began paying in 2020 and even then, Privates to Corporals got N20,000, Sergeants and Staff Sergeants N25,000, while Warrant Officers received N30,000. Uniform and boot allowances have not been paid at all.” The aggrieved soldiers are calling on President Bola Tinubu to direct anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the non-payment and diversion of their welfare funds.

Nigerian Soldiers F+ghting Boko Haram Lament About Allegedly Getting Paid N20,000 Out of N100,000 Monthly Allowance Fresh findings by SaharaReporters have revealed that Nigerian soldiers deployed to the North-East for counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram receive only N20,000 monthly from the N100,000 Scarce Skills Allowance (SSA) approved by the Federal Government. Several soldiers who spoke on the matter expressed frustration that, despite official approvals dating back to 2017, they are still being denied their full entitlements. “Yes, the Federal Government approved N100,000 per soldier, but we only receive N20,000,” one soldier said. “The Air Force recently raised theirs to N50,000, but the Army has refused. This underpayment started under former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.).” The SSA was one of several welfare packages introduced in November 2017 by former President Muhammadu Buhari under the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA). The document explicitly provides for N100,000 monthly payment to all military personnel, regardless of rank. However, soldiers told SaharaReporters they are still being paid between N20,000 and N30,000, in clear vi%lation of the guidelines. This revelation echoes similar allegations published in 2021, when troops accused the Army leadership under Buratai of diverting allowances. At the time, soldiers complained that their Uniform and Boot Allowance, along with the SSA approved since 2017, had either been unpaid or grossly reduced. One soldier explained: “The Scarce Skills Allowance approved by the President in 2017 was N100,000, but the Army only began paying in 2020 and even then, Privates to Corporals got N20,000, Sergeants and Staff Sergeants N25,000, while Warrant Officers received N30,000. Uniform and boot allowances have not been paid at all.” The aggrieved soldiers are calling on President Bola Tinubu to direct anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the non-payment and diversion of their welfare funds.