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The Brazilian Army Is In A Battle To Keep Secret A Bonus Of R$ 49 Million Dedicated To More Than 2,000 Civil Servants. Even Under Pressure From The CGU, The Force Resists In Revealing Details.
In a move that raises suspicions, the Brazilian Army appears to be engaged in a continuous effort to hide information about the payment of a substantial bonus exceeding R$ 49 million.
This bonus, which will be distributed to more than 2,000 civil servants, has become a real enigma. The public is starting to question the true motivation of the Force in keeping this data away from the watchful eyes of the press and citizens.
According to data obtained by the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU), the Army allocated a significant amount for the bonuses of employees, reaching R$ 49.4 million in 2024.
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This information, however, only came to light after frustrated attempts at concealment by the institution itself.
In the previous year, the Force had already attempted to hide the payments, revealing the amounts only after pressure and decision from the CGU.
The figure initially disclosed by the institution, around R$ 4.8 million, generated uncertainty about the actual amount allocated to the employees and whether the previously presented data was complete.
Persistent Attempts At Concealment
In 2023, the Army claimed to have paid bonuses totaling R$ 4.8 million. However, upon analyzing the numbers provided for 2024, the amount nearly tenfold, raising questions about what could have changed in such a short time.
The military agency, as revealed to the CGU, indicated that the bonuses follow strategic goals in areas such as “effectiveness in public resource management,” “strengthening the human dimension,” “enhancement of science and technology,” and “contribution to sustainable development and social peace.”
Even after repeated requests based on the Access to Information Law (LAI), the Army tried to keep secrecy not only about the amounts but also about the list of employees who would receive the bonus.
According to the Force, disclosing this list could expose “personal information.” The CGU, however, refuted this argument, stating that the payment of remunerations, such as a bonus, must be public and transparent, requiring the Army to provide details of who benefited and how the goals were assessed.
Performance Linked Bonus
In its defense, the Army claimed that the calculation of the bonus is based on the overall performance of each employee, using a metric that evaluates individual, intermediate (within the military organizations), and institutional performance.
If the performance achieved is equal to or greater than 81%, the employee is entitled to the full bonus amount.
This evaluation structure was also used to determine the payments of the previous year, based on a performance of 106.36% in 2023.
In 2023, the bonuses paid ranged between R$ 1,000 and R$ 5,600, benefiting 1,903 civil servants.
According to the institution, these amounts correspond to the fulfillment of 90.42% of the performance target established in the previous year.
The Force explained, in a generic manner, that the goal of “contributing to sustainable development and social peace” was achieved at 85.5% through “cooperation with national agencies and participation in social programs.”
Bonuses In Various Modalities
One of the most revealing pieces of information from 2024 was the existence of four different modalities of bonuses, including the General Performance Bonus of the Executive Branch (GDPGPE), which accounted for R$ 38.75 million of the total amount.
This information came to light after inquiries made by the press, which requested more details about the disparity between the values disclosed in 2023 and 2024.
Army Under Pressure From The CGU
The Comptroller demanded that the Army provide a detailed list of beneficiaries, the amounts paid, and the criteria used to evaluate performance targets.
The military agency has until October 21 to present the requested information. Otherwise, the Army may face further pressures and public scrutiny.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time the Force has attempted to keep important information secret.
In 2023, the CGU also had to force the Army to disclose data about the military’s actions during the attack on January 8, when they refused to inform who ordered the encirclement of the coup camp in Brasília with tanks and military troops.
In light of this series of attempts at concealment and evasive responses, what else could the Brazilian Army be hiding? Are other important pieces of information regarding expenses and operations also being kept secret? The answer will come with time, or perhaps not.
The fact is that the pressure for transparency continues to grow. And you, what do you think of this posture of the Army trying to hide the details of these payments? Are new revelations on the way?
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