The Nigerian Army has announced an increase in the monthly ration allowance for military personnel, raising it from N1,000 to N1,200

 

 The approval for this increment was conveyed in a memo signed by Major-General Emmanuel Emekah on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja. The memo, which emerged amidst soldiers' complaints about poor welfare and delayed salaries, was confirmed by officers.

The decision to raise the allowance came in response to the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, which resulted in an increase in the prices of goods and services nationwide. The new allowance is set to take effect from August 2023.

Despite the increment, some soldiers still express dissatisfaction, stating that the allowance remains inadequate. Many military personnel earn less than N70,000 per month, making it challenging to cope with rising expenses due to the subsidy removal.

In the midst of this development, protests have erupted across Nigeria in response to the petrol subsidy removal. On August 2nd, angry protesters pulled down the gate of the National Assembly in the Federal Capital Territory. Led by leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress, they voiced their displeasure over the subsidy removal. The Senate President convened a closed-door session with senators to address the situation and established a three-man committee to engage with the protesters at the National Assembly.