The Defence Headquarters has clarified that the delay in the payment of Ration Cash Allowance to soldiers deployed in various operations across the country is not the fault of field commanders or the military high command.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Magnus Kangye made the clarification on Thursday while responding to questions from journalists during a press briefing at the DHQ in Abuja.
He said any delay experienced by soldiers in receiving their allowances could only have occurred within the financial system, stressing that commanders were not withholding funds meant for personnel under their supervision.
“The issue of soldiers’ welfare has been a recurring one, and we have always explained that no field commander will be given money to feed his troops or pay their allowances and then refuse to do so.
Meaning the soldiers are going to fight on an empty stomach, their morale will dampen. So if that happens in the bush, where will the soldier get money to feed himself?” Kangye said.
He noted that the payment process could sometimes experience delays due to transaction or system issues, but assured that the allowances would eventually be paid.
“Yes, there may be some delay in some instances, but definitely, that RCA will be paid. A delay of a day or two could occur because of certain transaction issues. Nothing is perfect, no system is perfect,” he added.
Kangye likened the situation to a family setting where a person transfers money to a relative, but the recipient does not immediately receive the funds due to banking system glitches.
“Even you, at the end of the month, you want to transfer the feeding allowance to your family, and you transfer the money from your phone, but your wife said she didn’t see it. She sends you her balance. So where is the money? Will you not tell her to wait? Maybe there is an issue with the bank. Is it not true?” Kangye said.
He maintained that such issues should not be misconstrued as deliberate attempts to deny troops their entitlements or undermine their welfare.
The clarification by the DHQ follows complaints from soldiers deployed under DHQ-led operations, particularly Operation Fasan Yamma in the North-West and Operation Whirl Stroke in the North-Central, who alleged that they had not received their Ration Cash Allowance since August 2025.
The allowance is meant to support soldiers’ feeding and welfare while on active field operations.
Over the years, issues surrounding delayed or unpaid allowances have constantly surfaced.
