Dismissed Soldier dares Army to publish payroll amid welfare controversy

A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi, has challenged the Nigerian Army to make its payroll public, as controversy intensifies over his claims regarding soldiers’ welfare and remuneration.

Olamilekan, a former lance corporal, made the call in a video posted on Tuesday, hours after the Army dismissed his earlier allegations as false and misleading.

In the video, he presented bank transaction alerts which he said reflected his earnings during active service. According to him, his monthly salary stood at ₦112,061.59, alongside a ₦20,000 “grumbling allowance.” He also cited a ₦45,000 operational allowance paid only to personnel deployed to conflict zones such as Maiduguri, and a ₦6,000 security allowance.

He argued that soldiers not deployed to operational theatres receive only their base salary and the ₦20,000 allowance, stressing that operational incentives are not permanent entitlements.

Olamilekan further alleged that some personnel are compelled to procure their own protective gear, including helmets and fragmentation jackets, contrary to official provisions.

“I am not trying to damage the image of the Nigerian Army,” he said in the video. “I am simply stating facts, and I will back them up with evidence.”

He urged Nigerians to verify his claims through friends or relatives currently serving in the military, insisting that his disclosures were based on personal experience.

However, the claims could not be independently verified.

Reacting earlier, the Nigerian Army, through its acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anaele, dismissed Olamilekan’s assertions as baseless.

The Army maintained that uniforms, kits, arms, and protective gear are issued to all personnel through established logistics systems, adding that no soldier is deployed without adequate protection.

On remuneration, the Army stated that personnel receive consolidated monthly salaries, uniform allowances, operational allowances, and other mission-specific entitlements paid directly into their accounts.

It further clarified that Olamilekan’s dismissal was due to repeated acts of indiscipline, including violations of the Armed Forces Social Media Policy and unauthorised media engagements, and not linked to the content of his videos.

The unfolding dispute has sparked renewed debate over transparency and welfare conditions within Nigeria’s military, with calls for greater accountability gaining traction.