Army refutes report of planned strike by soldiers

The Nigerian Army has described as false a viral report that its personnel were planning to embark on an industrial action.

The report had claimed that some soldiers accused the military hierarchy of corruption and were shortchanging them.

According to the report, the aggrieved soldiers planned to embark to strike to express their grievances.

But in a swift reaction by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the report was not true, adding that such action amount to mutiny.

The statement read partly read, “The Nigerian Army has noted with concern the report by some online media alleging that some ‘pseudo’ aggrieved personnel wrote an open letter to the President, accusing the top brass of the Nigerian Army of corruption and extortion.

“More worrisome is the insinuation that soldiers have threatened to embark on strike; an action which is tantamount to mutiny in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

He said contrary to the report, the NA, as part of her effort to guard against fraudulent practices and entrench accountability and transparency in the system, subscribed to the Integrated Personnel PayRoll System as directed by the Federal Government, since 2018 and this has facilitated flawless payment of salaries and allowances of personnel.

Onyema added, “The IPPIS does not permit any personnel access to payment processes. These processes undoubtedly provide zero opportunity for anyone or group of persons to manipulate personnel entitlements.

“It is also important to state that the NA and sister services, jointly operate a Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure, which is applicable to the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general. T

“herefore, what is applicable to personnel of other services (Nigerian Navy and Air Force), invariably applies to personnel of the NA.

“Suffice to state that personnel salaries and allowances are promptly and appropriately paid, without any form of shortchange. ”

Onyema, however, stated that the Nigerian Army would investigate the claims made in the report to establish its veracity and take appropriate action, where necessary.