The report of a wave of resignations among Nigerian soldiers is worrisome, demanding urgent response from the military authorities.

Development Diaries reports that dozens of Nigerian soldiers have allegedly resigned to join the United Kingdom and Ukraine armies over poor welfare, according to Sahara Reporters.

It was gathered, according to the report, that soldiers are angry that the Nigerian government is not giving them enough money, modern weapons, or comfortable living quarters so they can fight back against the numerous non-state entities that are destroying the nation.

This development highlights the failure of the country’s military leadership to adequately address the welfare concerns of its personnel, even though 42.8 percent of the 2024 security budget was allocated to the defence ministry.

According to BudgIT, the security and defence sector budget increased substantially for 2024 fiscal year, as N3.85tn ($5.13bn), representing 13.38 percent, was allocated, marking a 37.99 percent increase from the N2.79tn allocated in 2023.

This recent development simply shows that the welfare of the military personnel is not priority, which has serious implications for national security, particularly as the country grapples with insurgencies, banditry, and other internal challenges.

Furthermore, the loss of skilled and experienced soldiers to foreign armies depletes Nigeria’s military capacity, particularly at a time when the nation is combating multiple security threats.

This situation also points to a larger issue within Nigeria’s public service structure, where inadequate attention to employee welfare leads to brain drain, with professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.

Additionally, this is part of a broader pattern of emigration among the country’s workforce, especially in sectors like healthcare, technology, and education.

Poor working conditions, low wages, and lack of career advancement opportunities have pushed many Nigerians to look abroad for a better quality of life. In the case of the military, this trend would impact national security and also reflects the broader socioeconomic challenges that need urgent attention from policymakers.

To stem the tide, Development Diaries calls on Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to address the root causes of dissatisfaction.

Photo source: Nigerian Army