The Nigerian Army has dismissed a report by an online medium alleging complaints by personnel over delayed promotions and stagnant pay under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, refuted the allegation in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
Anele emphasised that promotions in the service were strictly guided by merit, laid-down criteria, and availability of vacancies as stipulated in the 2024 Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) for Soldiers/Ratings/Airmen.
She clarified that paragraph 04.01 of HTACOS clearly stated that promotion is granted in recognition of hard work, professionalism, and efficiency.
According to her, no personnel bypasses these processes, and any change in timeline is based strictly on professional standards, not personal discretion.
The Army spokesperson highlighted that the regulations guiding promotions were transparent, detailed, and in line with global military best practices, covering all ranks from Private to Army Warrant Officer.
She emphasised that the Nigerian Army remained a professional and disciplined institution, guided by due process.
On the claims of stagnant pay, Anele clarified that remuneration adjustments fell under the constitutional mandate of appropriate federal institutions and not the discretionary control of the army leadership.
She highlighted welfare reforms instituted by the COAS since his assumption of office, including the doubling of Ration Cash Allowance and the expansion of the Nigerian Army Welfare Loan Scheme to support personnel in small-scale enterprises and asset acquisition.
Anele noted that these welfare programmes were aimed at improving the lives of personnel and their families.
She described the online medium that published the report as a platform with “a long history of anti-military bias and sensationalism” and urged the public to disregard the publication, citing the anonymity of its sources as a sign of its lack of credibility.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, professionalism, and the welfare of its personnel in service to the nation.
Anele emphasised that the army would not be distracted by propaganda from discredited platforms seeking to destabilise troop morale and cohesion.
