Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, don announce say federal government don increase minimum monthly salary for soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000. Dis one na part of effort to improve military welfare.
Musa yarn dis tori during interview with News Central wey air for Wednesday. But di minister still tok say di money wey government dey put for defence no reach wetin di military need.
When dem ask am if current defence budget enough, Musa answer straight: “No be enough.”
He explain say, “When dem start, soldier dey collect N49,000 monthly. We try well-well, now he dey collect N100,000.”
Di minister also call for death penalty for convicted kidnappers. He say di laws too soft, and dat dey make people take advantage. “If dem know say once you commit offence, punishment must follow, e go deter dem,” he tok.
For di matter of di recent abduction of schoolchildren for Oyo State, Musa allege say kidnappers dey try to pressure military to release some of dia detained leaders. “Dem dey look for leverage because we get some of dia commanders. Dem feel say if dem take dese pikin, we go release dia commander,” he yarn.
He add say di abductors don threaten to kill di children if security forces intensify rescue operations.
Musa also reject claims wey dey circulate for social media say soldiers no dey chop well. He refer to viral video involving military officer wey dem call Justice Crack. Di minister allege say di officer deliberately remove food items from meal before recording to create false impression.
“Di soldier food okay. E get meat and other things, but Justice Crack tell dem to remove those things and make am look like dem no dey there,” Musa claim.
Justice Crack, wey im real name na Justice Mark Chidiebere, na social media influencer wey army arrest for March after e post videos alleging poor feeding and welfare among soldiers. Di army say investigation find say di influencer engage soldiers for discussion wey aim to incite discontent and subversion, contrary to armed forces social media policy.
While soldiers remain for military custody, Justice Crack don hand over to civil authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution. For May, Federal High Court for Abuja grant am bail for N5 million with one surety, while im trial continue.
Nigeria armed forces don face mounting pressure for recent years as dem dey battle insurgency for northeast, banditry for northwest, separatist violence for southeast, and widespread kidnapping-for-ransom across many parts of di kontri. Successive governments don promise to improve troops welfare as part of broader efforts to strengthen security operations.
