Against the backdrop of reports making the rounds that a new financial package has been approved for members of the armed forces and payment of the new package has begun, the Defence headquarters has denied any such payment.
Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu made the clarification in a statement in Abuja on Thursday December 24, 2019 titled ‘Manuelbof Financial Administration for thr Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA) 2017 Not Yet Implemented’.
It reads, ‘The Defence Headquarters has been alerted to a false alarm raised by a self styled whistle blower alleging embezzlement in the military reportedly as a result of underpayment of soldiers as provided in the Manual of Finacial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA) 2017.
“The DHQ wishes to clarify that the insinuation that personnel of the Armed Forces are under remunerated as against the provisions of MAFA 2017 is unfounded and untrue.
“Contrary to the claims made by the Twitter handle @ millisaint, the said document has not been activated and therefore yet to be implemented, since the appropriation 2020 was recently passed.
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“The provisions of the MAFA document are thus, billed to be operational in year 2020.
“It is also essential to point out that MAFA allowances are not part of the Salary Structure of the Armed Forces, consequently, even when implemented the salary structure will remain unchanged.
“The anticipated impactful change on the salary structure will only come as a result of the recently approved 30,000 Naira minimum wage that will be paid by IPPIS.
“It is also expedient to advice the whistle blower to endeavour to verify his information from reliable and authorised sources to establish the veracity of his information as it is capable of causing disaffection within the ranks of the Armed Forces.
“Members of the public are please enjoined to discountenance the misinformation as it is misguided and bereft of any iota of truth.
“The DHQ wishes to reassure all personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and members of the public that personnel welfare is paramount in the vision and mission of the current leadership of the military and any form of short changing of personnel will be met with stiff penalties.”
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