By Abdul Seye The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate purported voluntary resignation of 365 soldiers. The de...
By Abdul Seye
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate
purported voluntary resignation of 365 soldiers.
The decision to probe the circumstance of the resignation
followed the adoption of a motion of matters of urgent public importance moved
by the Chief Whip of the House, Muhammed Monguno and 3 others on Tuesday.
According to the mover of the motion, the soldiers tendered
their resignation due to alleged embezzlement of allowances and inferior
military hardwares.
Monguno in his motion linked the recent exposé by Lance
Corporal Martins Idakpein to the mass resignation.
“On the 22nd of June 2020, a lance corporal in the Nigerian
Army, Martins Idakpein made an online video where he condemned the attitude of
the Service Chiefs towards the attacks and killing of Nigerians and soldiers as
well as untold hardship soldiers face while conducting combat operations, ”
Monguno stated.
He also highlighted the series of protests by military
personnel due to poor welfare and poor working conditions.
“On several occasions, soldiers have disobeyed orders from
superior officers in protest of poor welfare arrangements, and alleged
embezzlement of allowances due them by the superiors, and there have been cases
of mutiny and sporadic shooting and attempt shooting of superior officers.
“Recently, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, the commander of
operation Lafiya Dole was removed for complaining about inferior military wares
while briefing the Chief of Army Staff, ” he said.
He revealed that having disgruntled retired soldiers without
employment opportunity is dangerous.
“On the 3rd of July, 366 solders which is a battalion
serving in the north-east and other theaters of operation wrote to the COAS,
asking for voluntary retirement from the Nigerian army, citing loss of
interest.
“Military sources
blamed low morale and mass casualty for such resignations. If this is not
brought under check by having disgruntled soldiers in the society without job security,
it may become a major security threat.”
The Committee on Army was mandated to investigate the
circumstances surrounding the mass resignation.
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