A retired Nigerian female soldier has publicly criticized the Federal Government for awarding $100,000 to each member of the Super Falcons following their victory over Morocco in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), while allegedly neglecting the welfare of military veterans.
In a passionate video shared on TikTok, the veteran, who served in the Nigerian Army for 31 years, expressed outrage over receiving only ₦8 million as her retirement benefit—an amount she said is not even enough to purchase a plot of land.
“Imagine, I served for 31 years and they’re giving me ₦8 million that is not enough to buy a plot of land for myself. I served them, gave my life for them,” she lamented.
She claimed that while in service, she remained largely unrecognized and even after retirement, many of her former colleagues and the system at large had forgotten her. “They were frustrating me up and down,” she added, accusing authorities of refusing to pay several owed allowances.
“Pay us parking allowance—they refused. Pay us SAD—they refused. By right, as you reach 30 years in service, they’re supposed to pay us our SDA as approved by the Nigerian Defence. But they gave me ₦3.4 million which isn’t even up to half of what is due for someone who has served up to 31 years,” she said.
Highlighting the sacrifice and crucial role of military personnel, the ex-soldier warned, “If the army goes on strike for just 24 hours, Nigeria would sink. They’ll bomb that villa where the leaders sit.
We give our lives for this country, and yet we are not being recognized. Can he stand for one minute without a soldier behind him?”
She called on the federal government to recognize the service and contributions of retired soldiers and demanded that proper compensation and respect be accorded to military veterans.
The video, which also featured voices of other aggrieved retired military personnel, quickly gained traction online, with many Nigerians in the comment section expressing empathy and anger over the perceived unfair treatment of those who served the country.
