Some aggrieved Nigerian soldiers have written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, lamenting the alleged diversion of their allowances and what they described as widespread corruption among top military officers.
The soldiers, who said they have endured years of neglect, claimed that their families are suffering while they remain on the frontlines battling insurgents and other security threats across the country.
In the letter, sighted by PLATFORM TIMES on Tuesday, the soldiers accused the outgoing service chiefs and senior officers of shortchanging them in the payment of non-regular allowances approved by the Federal Government.
“Mr. President, our families are hungry while we stay in the bushes suffering just to protect the country,” the soldiers wrote. “We appeal to you to personally address the issues concerning our unpaid allowances. Despite our dedication and sacrifice, we face financial hardship and lack of welfare support.”
According to the soldiers, each of them is entitled to a non-regular allowance of ₦100,000, but they receive only ₦20,000, which they allege is due to massive corruption within the Army’s leadership.
“The Chief of Army Staff and top generals are highly involved in this embezzlement,” the letter alleged. “The Federal Government releases the money every fiscal year, but it never gets to us.”
The soldiers also decried poor welfare conditions, inadequate medical care, and what they described as discriminatory promotion practices against non-commissioned officers.
“We have not received our full non-regular allowances since 2017. Medical care in most Army units is inadequate, and we are forced to pay for treatment and essential kits from our pockets,” they lamented.
“Our morale is down already. If this injustice continues, we may be forced to protest. We cannot continue to die like chickens while senior officers live comfortably and keep their children abroad.”
The aggrieved personnel further accused the Army Headquarters of deliberately delaying the 2025 promotion for junior soldiers while prioritizing the advancement of commissioned officers.
“They keep treating us badly simply because we are non-commissioned soldiers,” the letter added.
The soldiers urged President Tinubu to investigate the alleged financial mismanagement and ensure prompt payment of all outstanding allowances.
“We urge you, Mr. President, to act swiftly. We are ready to continue defending Nigeria, but we also deserve justice, fairness, and dignity,” the soldiers appealed.
As of press time, the Nigerian Army authorities had yet to respond to the allegations.
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