Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved salary increases of up to 80 percent for members of the country’s armed forces, in a move aimed at improving troop welfare and strengthening the military’s capacity to respond to growing security threats.
The new pay structure, which takes effect on 1 September, comes as Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges, including insurgency in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, widespread kidnappings in the north-central region and separatist-linked violence in parts of the southeast.
Under the revised salary structure, soldiers from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant will receive an 80 percent pay increase. Personnel from Warrant Officer to Colonel will receive a 50 percent raise, while officers above the rank of Colonel, including Generals, will receive a 30 percent increase.
According to the Presidency, the salary adjustments will raise the military’s annual wage bill from 660 billion naira to 924 billion naira (approximately US$679 million).
Successive Nigerian governments have struggled to contain insecurity despite increased military deployments and defence spending. Armed groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to launch attacks in the northeast, while heavily armed criminal gangs have intensified attacks and kidnappings in other parts of the country.
The government says improving the welfare of military personnel is a key part of efforts to strengthen morale, retain skilled personnel and enhance operational effectiveness. President Tinubu also pledged to continue modernising the armed forces by investing in new weapons, equipment and technology to better confront evolving security threats.
The pay rise is one of the largest salary adjustments for Nigeria’s armed forces in recent years and reflects the government’s continued focus on addressing the country’s complex security challenges while supporting the welfare of troops on the front lines.
