Key facts
- Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved salary increases for the armed forces.
- The pay rises range from 30% for senior officers to 80% for junior ranks.
- The new pay structure is effective September 1.
- The annual wage bill for the armed forces will increase to 924 billion naira.
- The government aims to boost troop welfare amidst ongoing security challenges.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved significant salary increases for members of the armed forces, with raises of up to 80% set to take effect on September 1. This move is intended to improve troop welfare as the nation grapples with persistent security challenges, including insurgency, banditry, and kidnappings across various regions.
The new pay structure will see officers above the rank of colonel receive a 30% increase, personnel from colonel to warrant officer get a 50% raise, and soldiers from private to staff sergeant rank benefit from an 80% salary hike. According to presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga, this package will raise the armed forces' annual wage bill from 660 billion naira to 924 billion naira ($678.68 million).
Despite increased military spending and deployments, successive Nigerian governments have struggled to contain widespread insecurity. President Tinubu stated that his administration remains committed to prioritizing troop welfare and modernizing the armed forces with necessary weapons and technology to combat evolving security threats.