By Olayemi Esan
The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on Army to investigate the non-payment and underutilisation of non-regular allowances of the Nigerian Army personnel despite an increase in welfare budgetary allocations.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion on matters of urgent public importance by Ibrahim Hassan Nalaraba at plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, the lawmaker said the budgetary provision for Non-Regular Allowances was increased from N283 billion in 2020 to about N380 billion in 2021.
He, however, regretted that, despite the increase for their welfare, the personnel of the Nigerian Army involved in internal security operations, training and performance have not felt the corresponding effect, adding that other military duties were still being owed various types of Non-Regular Allowances.
He added that the significant upward review of Non-Regular Allowance of the Nigerian Army in 2017 was to ensure that serving Army personnel are adequately remunerated and motivated for optimum performance in the provision of security in the country.
“Non-Regular Allowances, which includes payments such as First 28 days allowance, Operations allowance and Duty Tour Allowance of soldiers and officers, were necessitated to mitigate the effects of current economic realities on the welfare of troops and the entire personnel of Nigerian Army.
“The increment was captured in the Manual of Finance Administration (MAFA) and approved for implementation by the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria on 26‘” January 2018,” he said.
The House, therefore, directed the committee to investigate and report back in four (4) weeks.
Source: DailyTrust
