PUNCH
There are indications that the Nigerian Army may be currently experiencing an acute shortage of manpower, due to the high number of those who voluntarily retired.
It was gathered that one of the units badly hit by the development was the Mechanical Engineering Corps.
The PUNCH had reported that over 1,008 soldiers resigned from the Nigerian Army in the last four years.
According to the report, in 2023, the Nigerian Army approved the retirement of no fewer than 59 soldiers.
Earlier in 2022, a total of 261 soldiers resigned; in 2021, 127 resigned, and 365 resigned in 2020.
In August this year, 196 soldiers resigned from the Army.
Reacting to the report, the Army spokesperson, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the service was by conscription.
However, to fill the vacancy, it was gathered that the army was planning to re-engage discharged soldiers.
In a memo dated October 16, 2024, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, the mechanical corps lamented that huge numbers of soldiers resigned from the unit.
The memo signed by Lt Col A. Muhammed urged all commanding officers to reach out to discharged soldiers in the area of responsibilities.
