The Nigerian Army has given reasons for the delay in the payment of feeding allowance of troops providing security for Chinese working at the Zungeru Hydro Electricity Dam Project in Niger State.
It said the delay in the receipt of funds from the concerned institution caused the delay.
The Army debunked a report by an online media outfit that the three-month Ration Cash Allowances (RCA) was diverted by a senior officer.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
He said: “…Contrary to the insinuations made in the online report, preliminary investigation revealed that troops deployed at the Chinese company in Niger State have always been paid in tranches by the Nigerian Army on receipt of the funds from the institution concerned.
“Accordingly, the last tranche payment of RCA by the affected institution for the troops deployed elapsed on 28 February 2023. While the next tranche of payment is being processed, the Army headquarters has paid the troops covering the period 1 March to 30 June 2023, in a bid to ameliorate the operating conditions of the troops and keep them at par with deployments elsewhere.
“To cushion the effect of the tranche mode of payment, provision was made to feed the troops daily, and this has been a routine. The troops’ RCA was, therefore, not diverted by any of the senior officers named in the publication or anyone else, as wrongly portrayed.
“Much as the Nigerian Army understands the concern raised by the online media regarding these allegations, we wish to state unequivocally that under the leadership of Lt.- Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the welfare of troops takes a premium place amongst other important schemes and considerations, as it is one of the vital pillars of his Command Philosophy, which is to provide ‘Sound Administration’ for personnel of the Nigerian Army”.
The statement stressed that the Nigerian Army remained committed to upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in the administration of the welfare of troops in all operations and other endeavours.
