243 soldiers resigned voluntarily, not due to corruption – NAÂ
The Nigeria Army has said the resignation of 243 of its personnel is voluntary and not unusual. The army stated that some media reports had falsely linked the development to alleged corruption and low morale felt by the affected former officers.
In its statement, the army described the claim as “a concoction” while calling those behind the said reports as “unrepentant enemies” and “mischief makers”.
The army explained that “recruitment into the NA is voluntary with extant policy on discharge and retirement of soldiers and officers respectively, like other organizations”.
“It says 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 for soldiers/ratings/airmen (Revised) 2017.”
The statement also says the conditions of service has improved under the leadership of the current chief of army staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya. It listed actions taken by Yahaya to include improving the welfare of troops, provision of car and housing loans, construction of new accomodation, and provision of scholarship to children of soldiers who die in active service.
The army said the interventions “evidently account for troops’ game changing onslaught in the Northeast.”
“It must also be mentioned, that the quantum of equipment that have been injected into the theatres and prompt payment of operational allowances, have all turned the tide against the insurgents,” the army said, in its statement by Brigadier general Onyema Nwachukwu, director army public relations.
