AWARENESS OF WELFARE, HOUSING, AND SEXUAL EXPRESSION/DISCIPLINE IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY: AN EMPIRICAL POLICY REVIEW OF BARRACKS ACCOMMODATION AND SOLDIER WELLBEING

Abstract

This study empirically examines the awareness and relationship between barracks accommodation, welfare provision, and sexual discipline among Nigerian Army personnel, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative evidence. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, data were collected from 150 serving soldiers selected through stratified random sampling and 30 retired soldiers purposively sampled from veterans’ associations. Instruments included a structured 25-item Likert-scale questionnaire, 10 key informant interviews, and 4 focus group discussions segmented by marital status and gender. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS v26 (descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, t-tests, and regression analysis), while qualitative data were thematically coded with NVivo.Findings revealed that 69% of active soldiers lived in overcrowded quarters, 82% lacked privacy, and 74% rated their housing as poor. Sexual dissatisfaction affected 58% of respondents, with significant correlations between poor housing and sexual misconduct (r = 0.56, p < 0.01). Retired soldiers reported substantial improvements in privacy (83%), marital intimacy (76%), and emotional wellbeing after leaving the barracks. Regression analysis showed that housing quality and emotional support together explained 68% of the variance in behavioral stability. The study concludes that inadequate military housing and welfare policies are significant predictors of sexual repression, emotional distress, and disciplinary infractions. It recommends urgent reforms, including privacy-enhancing housing designs, conjugal leave policies, integration of sexual health counseling, and welfare restructuring to align with global best practices.