A former Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche (retd.), has called on the Federal Government to improve the welfare and remuneration of Nigerian soldiers substantially, stressing that the country’s military personnel deserved better financial support in appreciation of the sacrifices they make to defend the country.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Saturday, the retired senior military officer stated that no Nigerian soldier should earn less than N250,000 monthly, describing the figure as a reasonable minimum given the economic realities in the country and the rising cost of living.
Enenche said the soldiers are not like ordinary public servants who are doing their official duties, rather the army men are always on national service, whether they are on active service or have retired from duty.
He said the nature of the military job was demanding and personnel had to be available round the clock, unlike workers who operated within set working hours. He noted that soldiers are exposed to special risks, to long periods away from their families, and often work in conditions that threaten their lives, in order to preserve the country’s territorial integrity and internal security.
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“I think a Nigerian soldier on the base should be paid nothing less than ₦250,000 monthly,” Enenche said in the interview.
He said that the suggested salary would serve as a modest benchmark and not an excessive demand in the light of the sharp rise in inflation and the increasing cost of essential goods and services in Nigeria.
The retired general also stressed military service is a lifelong commitment. Soldiers, he said, remain bound to the sense of duty even after retirement and can be called upon to serve the nation again whenever their expertise is needed.
Enenche said, “Even as I’m retired now, no soldier is ever off-duty.
To drive his point home, he said that even though he is no longer in active service, if a senior military officer calls him with an assignment, he would respond without hesitation.
“Even now if a senior officer calls me and says, ‘General Enenche, sir, we want you to…,’ “I’d do it even in retirement,” he added.
Enenche’s comments come at a time when there are ongoing discussions on the need to improve the welfare, salaries, allowances and working conditions of members of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Security analysts and stakeholders have continued to argue that enhanced welfare packages would not only boost the morale of military personnel, but would also improve operational effectiveness in the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats facing the country.
