According to a report by Punch on Saturday, August 2, 2025, a retired military officer, Adamu Bashar, has criticised the Federal Government’s ₦150 million cash reward to each member of the Super Falcons following their recent WAFCON victory, describing it as a “complete waste of scarce resources.”
Bashar, who retired from active service about eight years ago, made his position known in an interview on Saturday.
He expressed frustration that while footballers are being rewarded with massive sums for winning a game, soldiers who risked their lives defending the country continue to live in hardship.
“To me, that is a complete waste of money. Most of us, the retired soldiers, are being paid peanuts. We who defended this country with our lives are not even asking for ₦150m. Let the government give us even ₦20m and see whether youths will not show interest in joining the military,” Bashar said.
The retired officer argued that the government’s apparent preference for rewarding entertainers and athletes over military personnel sends the wrong message to the younger generation.
According to him, one of the major reasons young Nigerians are no longer interested in joining the armed forces is because of how poorly those in service, as well as retired veterans, are treated.
Bashar called on the Federal Government to extend similar gestures and financial appreciation to retired military personnel.
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