The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has intervened in the controversial delay in the payment of December salary for soldiers.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Defence said the intervention was consummated in the spirit of the Christmas celebration. It said the minister’s intervention came in the heat of non-payment of December salary to the soldiers.
The statement reads: “In recognition of the critical nature of the matter, Matawalle engaged in collaborative efforts with the Accountant-General of the Federation and the AGF partnered effectively with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to expedite the resolution of the salary payment delay”.
The statement signed by the Director of Press, Henshaw Ogubike, said contrary to some reports, “we can confirm that payments have commenced”.
It said the minister, who personally made all necessary contacts with the authorities in charge of payment of salary said the military officers can now celebrate with their loved ones as their salaries have started dropping into their accounts.
While thanking the concerned authorities for the prompt payment of December salary after his intervention, he commended the military for their dedication and commitment to their duties despite the initial challenge in the payment of their December salary.
“I hope the payment will boost your morale to carry on your constitutional duty of protecting the nation”, he said.
The minister further said that he would continually use his good office to promote the well being of the Nigerian military.
“As the minister of state for defence, I am aware of the sacrifices made daily by our brave men and women of the Armed Forces in ensuring the safety and security of our nation.
“Your dedication, resilience and commitment to duty serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration to us all,” he said.
He charged all Nigerians irrespective of their religion to pray for the military personnel, who are out there protecting the citizenry and the territorial integrity of our nation.
By Kingsley Nwezeh
