Aftermath of the investigation conducted by a high powered panel set up by the Defence headquarters into allegations of short-changing in payment of allowances to Nigerian peace-keepers serving in the United Nations, the panel has revealed that the allegation is baseless.
DHQ noted that at the end of the investigation which took the panel to the United Nations and other countries, it was discovered that the accruable amount paid by the UN for the 6 months in 2 instalments was US$787.98.
However, US $ 789.10 was paid to each personnel in 2 instalments and each personnel collected US $400 before departing the mission area and US $389.10 paid into their domiciliary accounts with Diamond Bank.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday in a statement titled ‘Re: Petition Letter to Nigerian Army/United Nations: Regarding NIBATTS 34 AND 35 Peacekeeping Missions in Liberia’, by the Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche.
The statement reads, “The attention of Defence Headquarters has been drawn to the above captioned petition.
“Consequently, the complaint in the petition was thoroughly investigated in order to inform the anonymous writer (s) and the general public about the true situation.
“On receipt of the original copy of the anonymous petition on non-payment of risk premium allowance in July 2017, a high level investigation commenced immediately.
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“The investigative body got documents from United Nations office in New York, Defence Adviser in New York, Defence and Nigerian Army Headquarters finance offices and Diamond Bank plc.
“Through logical and confirmatory investigation, it was found that: ‘The United Nations approved 6 months risk premium allowance for NIBATTS 34 and 35 and not 9 months as claimed in the anonymous petition.
‘The allowance approved per month range between US $132.90 and $132.99 per month depending on the approved rate per day.
‘The accruable amount paid by the UN for the 6 months in 2 instalments was US$787.98. However, US $ 789.10 was paid to each personnel in 2 instalments.
‘Each personnel collected US $400 before departing the mission area and US $389.10 paid into their domiciliary accounts with Diamond Bank.
“In view of these, de-inducted NIBATTS 34 AND 35 personnel, members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the general public are hereby assured that the approved allowance by UN was duly remitted to the beneficiaries.
“Thus, all negative assertions in the anonymous petition should be disregarded.
“The Defence Headquarters and services will always continue to administer military personnel in line with best international practices and also think out of the box to ensure optimum welfare for officers and men.
“All service personnel are hereby advised to remain focused on our constitutional role of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and carrying out other tasks assigned to the Military by appropriate Superior Authority.”
Major General John Enenche
Director Defence information
