Nigerian Army personnel bemoan, “We’re now selling TV sets to feed our families.”

They said that the Nigerian government and army officials had reduced those of them in the lower cadre to poverty by failing to raise their salary for many years—some of them for as long as 12 years.

The soldiers observed that they had to sell their cars, televisions, homes, and other possessions in order to cover their basic living expenses.

They pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to raise their pay and form a committee to look at events in the military, particularly those involving and impacting the rank and file.

“With the present rate of inflation in Nigeria, we in the Army’s lower levels are suffering. The soldier said to SaharaReporters, “Sir, we now find it difficult to pay our children’s school tuition.

“The army barracks are seriously hungry. As I write this, our soldiers are currently selling their housing properties before the end of each month, as well as televisions, refrigerators, and any other items that can be sold for a small sum of money to purchase food.

“This life is not simple for us soldiers at all; we are all in debt because our paychecks are not enough to pay children’s school fees, let alone feed the families,” one soldier said. “Some even sold their automobiles.”

A soldier, Sergeant Ismaila Ukwuhcodu, submitted a letter to the President a few weeks prior complaining about their “meager” pay.