The Nigerian Army, on Monday, refuted reports alleging the service diverted the Ration Cash Allowance of troops deployed to secure Chinese nationals working at the ongoing Zungeru Hydro Electricity Dam Project in Niger State.
In a report by some online media platforms last week, some troops alleged that they had not been paid their RCA for three months by their erstwhile General Officer Commanding Major General Alabi and Brigadier General Jamiu Jimoh, accusing them of diverting their allowance.
However, in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said the service under the current leadership has zero tolerance for any form of financial misappropriation among other actions which could dampen the morale of troops.
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He noted that after investigating the claims in the report, the service found that the allegations were incorrect.
Onyema explained that the allowance was paid in tranches, noting that the last part had been on February 28, 2023.
He added that while the next tranche was being processed, the service had paid the affected troops allowance from March to June.
The statement partly read, “However, contrary to the insinuations made in the online report, preliminary investigation reveals that troops deployed at the Chinese Company in Niger state have always been paid in tranches by the NA on receipt of the funds from the institution concerned.
“Accordingly, the last tranche payment of RCA by the affected institution for the troops deployed, elapsed on 28 February 2023. While the next tranche of payment is being processed, Army Headquarters has paid the troops covering the period 1 March 1 to June 30, 2023, in a bid to ameliorate the operating conditions of the troops and keep them at par with deployments elsewhere.
“Additionally, to cushion the effect of the tranche mode of payment, provision was made to feed the troops daily and this has been a routine. The troops’ RCA was therefore not diverted by any of the senior officers named in the publication anyone else, as wrongly portrayed.”
