Army approves cigarettes allowance, N20,000 salary increment for soldiers

The Nigerian military has rewarded soldiers who have completed the Language Proficiency Course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) with extra N20,000 to the salaries on a monthly basis.

ROYAL NEWS gathered the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, as part of welfare measures, also approved cigarette allowance for soldiers.

This development, intelligence sources have revealed that the troops on the frontline are in high spirits following the improved welfare packages.

According to the source, “No one would have believed that soldiers after the completion of the language proficiency course at the NARC that an amount of N20,000 would be added to their salary monthly.

“The COAS and Nigerian Army need to be commended for this laudable implementation.”

Similarly, the military has taken measures to counter the activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, which have intensified efforts in kidnappings of both soldiers and civilians in the North East.

ROYAL NEWS received information of the renewed strategies by the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole to beat the terrorists at their own game and forestall their plans to hurt soldiers in the frontline.

Recall that Boko Haram had recently kidnapped scores of soldiers, especially those on pass along the deadly Maiduguri-Damaturu routes.

But responding to this emergent security challenge, the military has signalled a change of strategy to protect these soldiers and their families while on work leave.

To this end, the Central Command of Operation Lafiya Dole has activated three-pronged platforms that would be coordinated by some of the senior commanders at the frontline.

According to military sources, three top senior officers have been selected to work together in countering the threats posed by the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists against their personnel and families while travelling with authorised ‘Pass.’