Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The GAmbia) – According to Sahara Reporters, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters owes over 200 soldiers deployed to The Gambia  and Guinea-Bissau for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mission substantial amounts in unpaid bonuses, according to reports from affected personnel. Each soldier is owed N9.2 million ($5,700), and frustration is mounting as many have not received their full entitlements months after the mission concluded.

The soldiers were part of the ECOWAS Stabilization Support Mission, which was established to restore peace and stability in the West African countries. In June 2023, 177 personnel were deployed to Guinea-Bissau and over 100 to The Gambia. Despite the mission’s significance for regional stability, the financial situation has left the soldiers feeling overlooked and unsupported.

Alongside Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana also deployed troops for the ECOWAS mission, with each soldier entitled to a $950 monthly bonus from ECOWAS. However, Nigerian soldiers report that they received only three months’ worth of bonuses, leaving a six-month gap unpaid.

“Only a few of us were paid an additional three months, leaving six months’ bonuses outstanding. This is painful because the soldiers from Senegal and other countries have received all their bonuses. But only Nigerian personnel have not received their full entitlements,” one soldier told SaharaReporters.

The mission concluded in June 2024, and although Defence Headquarters assured the soldiers that their bonuses would be paid during their leave, many are still waiting for their dues. “We believe ECOWAS has paid the Defence Headquarters, but they keep giving us excuses,” added the soldier.

A message sent by the affected soldiers to SaharaReporters expressed their disappointment: “We Nigerian soldiers went for a mission in Gambia, and some of us went to Guinea-Bissau for one year, and we are back to Nigeria. The Nigerian Army has not paid us our money for 12 months. It is only six months’ allowances that we received, and even the six months, not all of us received it.”

The soldiers fear repercussions if they speak out, with concerns that complaining could lead to victimization. “If we should come out and complain or confront them, it will turn into another thing. Either they frustrate us or have bad plans for us,” one soldier lamented.

Attempts to reach Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Nigerian Army spokesperson, for comments have been unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or text messages.

Delays in paying soldiers’ allowances are not new in Nigeria. Recently, SaharaReporters disclosed that the Nigerian Army confirmed delays in the payment of August salaries and allowances under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. A memo obtained by SaharaReporters urged soldiers to remain patient, with assurances that efforts were being made to address the issue.

The issue of unpaid bonuses and stagnant salaries has long been a sore point for Nigerian soldiers, with many expressing frustration over years without salary increments and delayed payments. As the situation continues, there is growing concern over the morale and welfare of those who risk their lives in the line of duty.