Funds Not Missing!” – Defence Headquarters Reveals Truth Behind Unpaid Soldiers’ Feeding Allowance

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has attributed the delay in paying Ration Cash Allowance (RCA) to some soldiers to a system glitch.

Maj.-Gen. Magnus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, clarified that the delay is not the fault of field commanders or the military high command. The RCA is intended to support soldiers’ feeding and welfare during active operations.

He assured that the necessary payments have been approved and that commanders are not withholding funds meant for troops deployed in various operations across the country. Personnel welfare, Kangye emphasized, remains a top priority, and soldiers will not be left to operate on empty stomachs.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during a press briefing at the DHQ, Kangye said, “The welfare of soldiers has always been a priority. No field commander is given money to feed troops or pay allowances and then refuses to do so. Soldiers cannot be expected to fight on empty stomachs—morale will collapse. Where else would they get funds in the field?”

He explained that delays may occur due to glitches in the banking system, stressing that no system is perfect, but the soldiers will receive their entitlements. “Yes, some delays may happen, but the RCA will be paid. A delay of a day or two could arise from transaction issues,” he added.

Kangye likened the situation to sending money to a family member who does not immediately receive it due to banking delays. “Even at home, if you transfer money to a relative and they don’t see it immediately, you ask them to wait. It’s the same with the RCA—there is no deliberate attempt to withhold funds from our troops,” he said.

The clarification comes after complaints from soldiers deployed under DHQ-led operations, including Operation Fasan Yamma in the North-West and Operation Whirl Stroke in the North-Central, who claimed they had not received their RCA since August 2025.