The Nigerian Army has debunked insinuations that the recent voluntary retirement of 243 soldiers was due to alleged corruption, poor service conditions and low morale.
Army spokesman, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, made the clarifications in a statement in Abuja in Saturday.
He said the allegation that soldiers of the Nigerian Army were proceeding on voluntary retirement due to alleged corruption, poor service conditions and low morale as recently reported by some media outfits in the social media was nothing but a concoction of the imagination of the unrepentant enemies of the nation and mischief makers and should be outrightly disregarded by the public.
The army spokesman said the subjective and unethical report was a distraction and another failed attempt at dampening the morale and fighting will of the loyal, dedicated and patriotic fighting force of the Nigerian Army.
“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.
“It is thus, the inalienable right of a personnel to voluntarily or on medical grounds apply for discharge, if they meet 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.
Nwachukwu added that given the pedigree and mannerism of the publisher of the ill-fated report, it was clear, that it was targeted at deflating the high morale of troops by downplaying recent critical interventions by the COAS Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya on troops’ welfare, which included car loans, housing loans, extensive construction of new accommodation, massive renovation of old and dilapidated accommodation, among others.
“These interventions evidently account for troops’ game changing onslaught in the North East.
“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.
“Also worthy of note is the welfare flight for troops, which has significantly reduced the burden of troops travelling in and out of the theatres, in addition to huge commitment on the medical needs of wounded-in-action soldiers and the barracks communities.
“Equally important, is the fact that troops are now being regularly and consciously rotated from the frontline, hence, issues of overstay and battle fatigue are gradually being overcome.
“Suffice to say, that some of these recently discharged soldiers are beneficiaries of these giant strides,” he said.
