Morganable News/Security&Justice
Soldiers from the rank of private to staff sergeant will enjoy an 80 per cent salary increase, while warrant officers to colonels will receive a 50 per cent increment. Senior officers from the rank of brigadier-general to general will benefit from a 30 per cent increase
kaNo —
President Bola Tinubu has approved a salary increase of between 30 and 80 per cent for about 250,000 personnel of the Armed Forces, raising the military’s annual wage bill from N660 billion to N924 billion in what officials described as the most significant upward review of military salaries under the current administration.
The new salary structure, which will take effect from September 1, 2026, is designed to improve troop welfare, boost morale and strengthen the country’s security architecture amid ongoing military operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.
Under the approved package, junior personnel will receive the highest percentage increase.
Soldiers from the rank of private to staff sergeant will enjoy an 80 per cent salary increase, while warrant officers to colonels will receive a 50 per cent increment. Senior officers from the rank of brigadier-general to general will benefit from a 30 per cent increase.
Announcing the approval on Tuesday, the Presidency said the graduated salary structure was deliberately designed to favour lower-ranking personnel who bear the greatest burden of frontline operations.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the pay structure scales inversely with rank, ensuring that the most junior personnel receive the largest percentage increases.
Armed Forces Personnel Cost Rises
According to the Presidency, the salary increase reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to recognising the sacrifices of military personnel who continue to risk their lives in the fight against insecurity.
The President said the decision was informed by the administration’s determination to improve troop welfare while sustaining efforts to modernise the Armed Forces.
“The brave individuals who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation,” Tinubu said.
He assured members of the Armed Forces that troop welfare would remain a major priority of his administration.
“Our administration will continue to prioritise troop welfare and modernise the armed forces by providing the weapons and technological tools needed to discharge their duties,” he stated.
Salary Review Aims At Strengthening National Security
Tinubu linked the salary review to his broader national security agenda, arguing that economic prosperity and national development could only be achieved in a secure environment.
“Our administration believes that no nation can achieve greatness without security. We therefore remain resolute in mobilising all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians,” the President said.
Addressing beneficiaries of the salary increase, Tinubu described the package as an expression of appreciation for their dedication and patriotism.
“I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland,” he said.
Tinubu Expresses Confidence In Armed Forces
The President expressed confidence that the Armed Forces would continue to overcome the country’s security challenges.
“Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation,” he added.
The salary adjustment comes barely two weeks after Tinubu approved the restructuring of the Nigerian Army through the creation of four additional divisions aimed at improving operational response to emerging regional security threats.
The Federal Government believes the combination of improved welfare and enhanced military capacity will strengthen ongoing operations against insurgents, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and oil thieves operating in different parts of the country.
Defence Minister Commends New Salary Structure
Reacting to the development, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), commended the President for approving the new salary structure, describing it as a significant boost to troop morale and operational effectiveness.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister said the approval demonstrated Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through improved welfare for military personnel.
“The President has once again demonstrated unwavering leadership and empathy for the brave personnel who put their lives on the line daily to preserve the peace and territorial integrity of our nation,” Musa said.
He noted that the enhanced remuneration would reduce the financial burden on personnel deployed to various theatres of operation, including the North-East, where troops continue to battle insurgency, as well as other regions facing banditry, kidnapping and crude oil theft.
According to the minister, better welfare would encourage greater commitment among officers and soldiers while improving operational performance.
Musa assured the President that the Armed Forces would reciprocate the government’s gesture through increased professionalism, discipline and dedication to duty.
He urged military personnel to regard the salary increase as a renewed call to intensify efforts toward protecting lives, defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and restoring peace in troubled communities.
The minister also reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Defence to complementing the salary review with continued investment in military modernisation, improved technology, better equipment and enhanced welfare for personnel and their families.
The announcement was welcomed by retired senior military officers, who described the salary increase as a long-overdue intervention capable of boosting morale, improving recruitment and enhancing operational efficiency.
A former Director of Army Public Relations, retired Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, described the President’s decision as timely, noting that the sacrifices made by military personnel could never be fully compensated financially.
He argued that soldiers deserved to be among the highest-paid public servants because of the hazardous nature of their responsibilities and the risks they face daily in defending the country.
“The issue is not whether it is adequate or not. How much do you think you can pay a soldier that is enough? I don’t think the sacrifices or the life of a soldier can be quantified,” Usman said.
According to him, military personnel routinely endure difficult living conditions and prolonged separation from their families while participating in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and other internal security operations.
“Because of the nature of their work and the sacrifices they make, soldiers are supposed to be among the best-paid public servants in Nigeria,” he added.
Usman further noted that the 80 per cent salary increase for junior personnel would provide significant relief, especially against the backdrop of rising inflation and increasing living costs.
“When you look at their involvement in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and other internal security operations, as well as the level of deprivation they endure, you will understand why. We really need to commend the President for this move. An 80 per cent increment will go a long way, especially considering the inflationary trend in the country,” he said.
Serving military personnel also welcomed the announcement but said they would reserve final judgment until the new salaries were reflected in their bank accounts.
Some officers noted that while the approval had generated excitement across military formations, prompt implementation would be the true test of the government’s commitment to improving troop welfare.
Observers say the salary increase represents one of the Federal Government’s most significant investments in military personnel in recent years and is expected to strengthen morale at a time when the Armed Forces remain heavily engaged in multiple security operations nationwide.
