Tinubu Raises Military Pay as Armed Forces Salary Bill Climbs to ₦924bn

In what is the biggest upward review of military salaries under his administration, President Bola Tinubu has approved an upward review of salaries of about 250,000 personnel of the Armed Forces, increasing the military’s annual wage bill from N660bn to N924bn.

The biggest increases under the new pay structure, which will be implemented on September 1, 2026, will be for the junior personnel, with soldiers from the rank of private to staff sergeant getting an 80 per cent salary hike, warrant officers to colonels getting 50 per cent, and brigadier-generals to generals earning 30 per cent more.

The Presidency on Tuesday announced the package, saying the review was in recognition of the sacrifices the military personnel continue to make in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, adding that the administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of troops and modernise the Armed Forces with advanced weapons and technology.

The announcement was widely welcomed by retired senior military officers who said the pay increase was a significant morale booster that could improve troop commitment, recruitment and operational effectiveness. They however, called on the Federal Government to ensure prompt implementation and complement the salary review with modern weapons, improved logistics, accommodation, healthcare and other welfare packages.

The development was also welcomed by the serving military personnel but said they would reserve their judgment until the new salaries are reflected in their bank accounts and stressed that the real test for the government’s commitment to the troop welfare would be how effectively the new salaries are implemented.

In a statement on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the graduated structure of the increase scaled inversely with rank, with the highest percentage increases going to the most junior personnel.

The pay package will increase the annual salary bill for the armed forces from N660bn to N924bn, an increase of N264 billion.

The President said the pay rise was directly related to the sacrifices personnel continue to make in the war against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in parts of the country.

“Those men and women who help keep us safe in our homes need to be supported and appreciated as they go about their duties to our nation.”

Tinubu said troop welfare and military modernisation would continue to be a standing priority of his administration.

He said: “Our administration will continue to make the welfare of the troops a priority and modernize the armed forces by giving them the weapons and technological tools they need to do their jobs.

The salary hike is linked to the wider philosophy Tinubu has on national security, he argued.

We believe that there can be no greatness in any nation without security,” he said. “We have taken the position in our administration that security is the foundation on which greatness is built. “We remain resolute in the use of all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.”

He told the benefiting personnel, “I urge our servicemen to see our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland.”

“We shall together overcome the enemies bent on destroying the fabric of our nation,” the President added.

The pay hike, the largest upward adjustment to military pay under the current administration, comes just two weeks after Tinubu restructured the Nigerian Army into four additional divisions to increase response times to regional security threats.

Military morale booster

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), commended the President for approving a new salary structure for members of the Armed Forces, saying the move was a major boost to troop welfare and operational effectiveness.

The approval, according to a statement by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant on Media to Musa, on Tuesday, reflected Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of military personnel and strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture. The statement added that the new package would increase the annual personnel cost of the Armed Forces from N660bn to N924bn.

“Once again, the President has shown strong leadership and empathy for the brave men and women who risk their lives every day to preserve the peace and the territorial integrity of our nation,” Musa said.

He said the salary review would help reduce financial pressures on troops and boost morale among personnel deployed in various theatres of operation including the North-East where they are battling insurgency and other areas affected by banditry, kidnapping and crude oil theft.

Musa assured the President that the military would reciprocate the gesture by demonstrating more commitment, discipline and better operational performance.

He urged officers and soldiers to see the improved remuneration as a renewed call to duty, urging them to redouble efforts to address security threats, protect lives and restore stability across the country.

The minister also reiterated the Defence Ministry’s resolve to continue efforts to modernise military equipment, upgrade technological capabilities and improve the welfare of personnel and their families.

Ex-military chiefs respond

Retired senior military officers have applauded President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a 30 to 80 per cent salary increase for Armed Forces personnel, saying it was a major morale booster and urged the Federal Government to complement the package with better equipment, logistics and improved welfare.

Retired Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, who was the former Director of Army Public Relations, said the decision was timely, adding that no amount of money could be enough for the soldiers in the course of defending the country.

He said military personnel deserve to be among the best-paid public servants because of the hazardous nature of their duties and the sacrifices they make in combating insurgency, terrorism and other security threats.

The question is not about sufficiency, or not. How much do you think you can pay a soldier to be enough? I don’t think that the sacrifices or the life of a soldier can be measured. Soldiers are supposed to be among the best paid public servants in Nigeria, given the nature of their work and the sacrifices they make.

“Look at their involvement in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and other internal security operations and the extent of deprivation they undergo and you will know why. We really have 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.

The Minister of Defence had earlier alluded to an upward salary review, Usman said, adding that the approval was a demonstration that the government was living up to its promises with action.

This was proposed some time ago by the Minister of Defence and it is good that actions are now matching words. “It’s a sense of belonging for the troops and that the government is listening and it is responding to their welfare concerns,” he said.

Retired Commodore Omatseye Nesiama described the salary increase as a welcome development and said it would help bridge existing disparities in military remuneration.

But he said more adjustments are needed to bridge gaps among the different ranks, especially among senior officers.

“It is a welcome development. There is a great need for a gap-bridging strategy. However on close examination even among the ranks of senior officers there has always been a disproportionate gap and that too needs to be addressed. ”In my opinion, the increase should be extended to all security agencies in the country because they are all exposed to the same risks in terms of security and economic challenges,” he said.

Also reacting, retired Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi said the salary increase would significantly enhance the morale of troops, improve commitment and make the military service more attractive to young Nigerians.

“It will raise the morale of the recipients. Soldiers will be encouraged to do more, give their best, and be committed to any assignment they receive. It will also motivate able-bodied Nigerians that have not decided to join the armed forces because we need more recruits.

“This is a good development and we must commend President Bola Tinubu for the political will to do this. This is a good start, even if the desire for money is insatiable and inflation has reduced the purchasing power of salaries. “It shows the President is good to the members of the Armed Forces.”

However, Adewinbi emphasized that better salaries would not address the military’s operational challenges and urged the government to provide modern weapons, better accommodation, quality uniforms and adequate logistics.

“The government should not stop with salaries. “The troops need more protection and technology to help them in their operations. “They need advanced weapons, accommodation, uniforms and the logistics to carry out their tasks effectively,” he said.

But retired Brig. Gen. George Emdin cautioned that while welfare improvements have often been announced in the past, their implementation has been poor.

“This is not a new development. For a long time it has been said, but there is no money in it.

“Until we see how it is implemented, you can’t say much. Of course it will boost morale and earning power, which we like, but the problem has always been implementation,” he said.

Retired Rear Admiral Othiniel Filafa said that improved operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces depended on higher salaries, strong political will and effective deployment of military equipment.

“Decisions taken at the strategic level directly affected how troops performed on the battlefield,” Filafa told one of our correspondents.

The salary increase is justified. The majority of the challenges troops face are the result of the political will of those making decisions at the strategic level. Whatever happens there, it trickles down to the personnel on the field.

In terms of equipment, especially in the Air Force, the Federal Government has made commendable efforts in acquiring platforms to sustain combat operations. But commanders must make sure that the equipment they provide is used properly.

“The salary increase is very important because it will boost the morale of the troops, decrease resignations and increase combat effectiveness.”

Reacting, the Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on Security Matters, retired Col. Ahmed Usman, said the approval of the salary review by President Bola Tinubu was a welcome development that would help strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

In a statement, Usman said the improved welfare package would enhance the morale, commitment and operational effectiveness of military personnel who continue to make enormous sacrifices to protect lives and property across the country.

He said security personnel often operate in difficult and life threatening conditions and improving their welfare was not only a recognition of their patriotism but also a strategic investment in national peace and stability.

He said a well-motivated security workforce was critical for effective intelligence gathering, prompt response to emerging threats and sustained operations against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decision to enhance the salaries and welfare of our security personnel. “It will surely inspire greater dedication, professionalism and commitment from those leading the charge to protect our nation,” he said.

But Usman said improved remuneration alone would not solve the security challenges facing the country, and called on the Federal Government to complement the review of salaries with modern operational equipment, continuous training and retraining, comprehensive insurance, quality healthcare and decent housing for military personnel and their families.

He also urged security personnel to justify the confidence of the government by maintaining discipline, professionalism, integrity and respect for human rights in the discharge of their duties.

The retired military officer also urged Nigerians to give timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, noting that community engagement was indispensable in addressing insecurity.

He reiterated the determination of the Sokoto State Government to continue to support security agencies with sustained collaboration with federal security institutions to secure lives, secure communities and restore lasting peace.

“Security is a shared responsibility. The Government will continue to provide the necessary leadership and support, but citizens also have a vital role to play in cooperating with security agencies. Together, we can build a safer Sokoto State and a more secure Nigeria,” he said.

Personnel respond

Serving military personnel have welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a new salary structure for members of the Armed Forces, saying they would hold back on celebrations until the increases are reflected in their bank accounts.

A military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly said the salary review was a step in the right direction and could improve recruitment by making military service more attractive to young Nigerians.

“We are not celebrating until we start receiving it. “It’s the right move, of course. Recruitment has been suffering because of poor welfare. This is a good start but the government can still do better, especially for junior officers and soldiers because of the present economic situation. “Better welfare will make military service more rewarding and will encourage more Nigerians to serve,” he added.

For another serving senior officer, the salary increase of 50 per cent will increase his monthly salary from ₦362,405.67 to ₦543,608.51, according to a breakdown he shared on how it would affect his earnings.

The calculation shows that his salary would be increased by ₦181,202.84 and his new salary per month would be ₦543,608.51.

“Fifty per cent of ₦362,405.67 is ₦181,202.83. Including my current salary, it is ₦543,608.51. “It does not compare with what many of my contemporaries outside the military earn, but we thank the President,” he said.

Read Also: Actress Temitope Osoba Passes Away After Long Fight Against Cancer

Another serving personnel said the announcement was encouraging but stressed that the real test was implementation.

“It’s good news, but there is no reason to celebrate yet. When the money hits our bank accounts, we can celebrate. Fingers-crossed, for now.”

A third soldier welcomed the increase in salary but was doubtful that it would be enough to compensate for the country’s economic problems.

I thank the President for the increment but with the current economic situation, I doubt if it will make much difference. Hopefully, this will be the start of better welfare for the troops. We risk our lives to protect this country and we deserve better.”

The latest salary review comes amid increasing calls to improve welfare for military personnel.

The PUNCH exclusively reported recently that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa was given a seven-day ultimatum by retired military personnel to facilitate an increase in soldiers’ salaries to at least ₦250,000.

The demand followed a disclosure by the Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru that the salary of the lowest-ranked soldier has been increased from ₦50,000 to ₦100,000 monthly.

The Presidency also announced a new salary structure that will see the Armed Forces annual wage bill increase from the current ₦660bn to ₦924bn, an additional ₦264bn.

President Tinubu said the pay rise was in recognition of the sacrifices troops continue to make in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. He said his administration would continue to prioritise troop welfare while equipping the Armed Forces with modern weapons and technology to tackle emerging security threats.

Senators praise Tinubu

Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmad Lawan, have lauded the approval of a 30 to 80 per cent salary increase for Armed Forces personnel by President Bola Tinubu describing it as a timely move to boost troop morale.

The lawmakers said the new pay structure would bolster the commitment of military personnel involved in operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats.

In a statement on Tuesday, Yar’Adua thanked the President for recognising the sacrifices of troops, saying the increase, which would affect about 250,000 personnel from September 1, 2026, was a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to troop welfare.

He said the increment of the military’s annual personnel wage bill from N660bn to N924bn was an indication of the government’s resolve to improve the welfare and modernisation of the Armed Forces.

The senator, who heads the Senate Committee on Army, tied the salary review to recent moves to enlarge Army divisions, saying both would improve operational effectiveness and national security.

He said Senate would continue to work with the executive to ensure full implementation of the package, better equipment and better condition of service for the personnel.

Lawan also reacted, describing the salary review as a “compassionate and strategic intervention” that showed the government’s commitment to the welfare of troops.

The former Senate President stated that the phased increase was fair because it provided greater incentives to junior personnel who bear much of the burden of frontline operations.

However, he asked the Armed Forces to reply to the gesture with professionalism, operational efficiency and better synergy between the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Lawan said while there should be more funding and welfare to security services, it should be accompanied with more coordination and intelligence sharing among them to effectively tackle the country’s security challenges.