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Soldiers Not Affected By Monetisation Policy -- Minister

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
July 29, 2004
Posted to the web July 29, 2004

By George Onah
Calabar
THE Federal Government has said that military and para-military personnel in
the country will not benefit from the new monetization policy. Reasons for the
government's decision is based on the fact that the soldiers and the
paramilitary men enjoy free accommodation and enjoy free ride in government
vehicles without paying for them.
Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Malam Saidu Balarabe Samaila, dropped
the hint in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday, stating that the situation
may change in future, but that the officers should forget the idea for now.
Samaila who addressed Immigration officers at the headquarters of the
Immigration department explained that monetization policy was targeted at those
government officials who do not enjoy such facilities as free accommodation,
vehicles and other welfare package.
He said that the unknown statistics of the para-military departments was also
responsible for the non-implementation of the monetization policy. He listed
the statistics to include governments poor knowledge of the exact number of
personnel, the amount paid to them on monthly/annual basis, the monthly rent
accruing to the department and others.
"What is responsible for this problem is the poor information display and
statistics. But we shall tackle the problem and make sure that you all are
happy" he said. In her address, the Acting Comptroller of Immigration, Mrs.
Chizoba Adaeze Dibi, complained of the irregular payment of salaries
experienced by the command, explaining that "even when salaries come, there is
shortfall.
"Our salaries are not paid on time. Even when they are paid, there is
shortfall. When others are enjoying monetization, we are experiencing
reduction, what with another reduction when the contributory pension scheme
takes effect. Federal Government's directive on Para-military organizations
receiving their salaries by 20th of every month is yet to take effect. The
inadequacy, or non-existence of operational facilities have remained the
greatest inhibiting factor against our effective operation.
"Cross River State is a border state with numerous illegal entry points and
illegal beaches."

   

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