EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Soldiers Back From Sudan, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau Owed Up To 7 Months’ Allowances Despite UN Paying Govt –Sources | Sahara Reporters

Insider sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, disclosed that the soldiers are being owed staggering arrears of their allowances, with the payment discrepancies varying by mission.

An appeal has been made to the Federal Government of Nigeria concerning the unpaid entitlements of Nigerian soldiers who recently returned from international peacekeeping missions.

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that the soldiers, who returned to the country approximately four months ago, are yet to receive the full funds due to them, despite the United Nations having reportedly made the necessary payments for their allowances.

According to the sources, those deployed to Sudan were paid three months and are being owed seven months. Those deployed to Gambia were paid six months and remain owed six months, while those deployed to Guinea-Bissau were paid three months and are being owed seven months.

“We are calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently pay the outstanding entitlements owed to Nigerian soldiers who were deployed abroad and returned about four months ago, but have still yet received all the fund due to them,” one of the sources said.

“We understand that the United Nations has already made the necessary payments for these soldiers’ entitlements. However, despite this, the Nigerian Government has yet to ensure that the soldiers receive what they are rightfully owed.”

Insider sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, disclosed that the soldiers are being owed staggering arrears of their allowances, with the payment discrepancies varying by mission.

“Those deployed to Sudan were paid three months and are being owed seven months. Those deployed to Gambia were paid six months and remain six months, while those deployed to Guinea-Bissau were paid three months and are being owed seven months,” a source said.

The situation has prompted an urgent appeal to the Federal Government and relevant military authorities to immediately look into the matter and pay the soldiers what is rightfully theirs.

“We are therefore making a strong and respectful appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the relevant military authorities to immediately look into this matter and pay these soldiers their outstanding entitlements,” a group who described themselves as concerned soldiers appealed.

“These are men and women who were sent abroad to serve their country and who risked their lives in the line of duty. They deserve to receive their rightful payments without unnecessary delay,” they stated.

The group warned that if the matter is not addressed, there will be no choice but to bring the situation to the attention of the public.

“If this matter is not addressed, we will have no choice but to bring the situation [to the attention of the public],” they warned.

When SaharaReporters contacted the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, for clarification, he said he was driving and could not speak immediately.

“I am driving now, please, you can send a text message,” he said.

However, after SaharaReporters sent him a text message seeking clarification on the reported non-payment or delay in the payment of allowances to soldiers deployed on foreign missions, he had not responded as of the time of filing this report.