Tension in Nigerian Military over Non-Payment of Salaries

Following dangerous signals emitting particularly from military and paramilitary services over the non-payment of salaries of armed forces and Police personnel by the various organs responsible for such payments, tension is building among the rank and file.

It was gathered that the non payment of salary by military authorities, the Police and some Para-military organisations, is...

giving the top hierarchy of these organisations, particularly those of the armed forces, sleepless nights as hungry and angry military personnel may become difficult to control.

Originally, the Nigerian Army and other military establishments pay the salaries and allowances of personnel between the 20th and 22nd of every month and the ability of Unit and Formation Commanders to order troops or their equivalent for deployments particularly in internal security operations is largely hinged on the fact that the home front is secured financially.

Saturday Vanguard recalls that instances abound when soldiers either shot their Commanders over issues of payment of allowances or went on civil violent protests on suspicion of any double deals when it concerns payment of salaries and allowances. The recent Akure riots over peacekeeping allowances are still fresh in the nation’s memory.

Already, some security personnel are questioning the rationale for non payment or delay in the payment of their October salary, wondering why a system they are used to should suddenly change and the authorities are making no effort to explain what is going on...

Additonal Report VANGUARD.