Nigerian Soldiers’ Pay: Troops Accuse Commander of Withholding Allowance in North-East Fight

By: Abudu Olalekan

It’s a tough gig, being a soldier. Especially when you’re out there, in the scorching heat of Nigeria’s North-East, facing down Boko Haram. Day in. Day out. Under the banner of Operation Hadin Kai, these brave men and women put their lives on the line. But something’s rotten. Something is seriously wrong. Reportersroom, we’ve heard whispers. More than whispers, actually. Soldiers, thousands of them, are crying foul. They’re accusing their commander of something deeply unsettling: holding back their operation allowances. Their hard-earned pay.

Can you imagine? You’re in the bush. Fighting. Dodging bullets and bombs. And the money that’s supposed to help you, just a little, to make life a tiny bit bearable, it’s not showing up. We spoke to some of these affected troops, early Friday morning. Their voices, tired but resolute, painted a grim picture. Thousands, they said. Stranded. Left high and dry in the very places they’re meant to protect. Their morale? Shot. Absolutely plummeted. How can you keep fighting with that kind of weight on your shoulders?

“We are currently in the bush fighting terrorists,” one soldier told us. It’s not just a job; it’s a constant battle for survival. And these operation allowances? They’re “supposed to ensure we live comfortably while fighting.” A little comfort. Not luxury. Just basic comfort. To keep spirits up. To know you’re valued. “Even though the money is small, it is still going a long way,” another said. A small amount, yes. But it means everything. Yet, their commander, he’s apparently keeping it. Just like that.

Now, let’s talk logistics. Operation Hadin Kai. It covers a pretty wide swathe of the North-East. You’ve got Sector 1 in Maiduguri, Borno State. Sector 2 in Damaturu, Yobe State. Sector 3, also Maiduguri. And Sector 4 in Yola, Adamawa State. Other states in the region? Not part of this specific operation. So, these specific soldiers. These sectors. They’re the ones hit hardest by this alleged injustice.

The allowance itself. It’s supposed to be simple. Paid monthly. First of the month. Like clockwork. At least, it should be. The payment works out to N1,500 per day. For a full month, that’s N46,500. Not a fortune, right? But crucial. Absolutely vital for these men and women. But, they tell us, it’s not coming. And guess what? They’re pointing fingers at a specific bank. FCMB. Allege that the bank “refused to pay thousands of troops using their bank their operation allowance.” A bank, in cahoots? Or just a processing error? Either way, the soldiers are the ones suffering.

And this allowance, it’s not just for the army. Oh no. It’s for a bunch of security agencies involved in Hadin Kai. Soldiers. Mobile police officers. Even personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). So, this isn’t just an army problem. It’s a wider security issue. Everyone’s feeling the pinch.

“Ever since he took over from our COAS Chief of Army Staff Major General Wahidi Shuaib, our operation allowance has been skipping till now,” one soldier recounted, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “Skipping.” A polite way of saying “not paid.” They know who they’re talking about. They identified the officer. The Theatre Commander. “We called him TC Theater Commander Major General Abubakar.” A name is out there. A person to answer to.

The troops. They’re not just complaining. They’re pleading. An urgent intervention is needed. This continued non-payment. It’s a poison. It eats away at morale. It weakens the very resolve of those risking their lives every single day. In operations against an enemy that shows no mercy.

This isn’t a new story, you see. Not really. Just last September, in 2025, Reportersroom brought you a similar cry for help. Personnel from the Nigerian Army. They were upset about non-payment of allowances. And poor salaries. They wanted President Bola Tinubu’s administration to step in. To review things. They wanted fair pay. A reflection of the current economic realities. But when they tried to complain? Threats. Army authorities, they say, shut them down. Silenced them.

We tried, you know. To get the Nigerian Army’s side of the story. Calls made. Messages sent. To Lieutenant Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele, the Acting Director for Army Public Relations. Nothing. Crickets. No answer. No response. As of this report, silence. And that, in itself, speaks volumes. This isn’t just about money. It’s about trust. About leadership. About the very foundation of those defending a nation. And right now, that foundation, it’s shaking.