President Bola Tinubu has approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, with junior officers and soldiers getting the highest percentage increase.
The new salary structure, which is expected to benefit about 250,000 military personnel, will take effect from September 1, 2026.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to Onanuga, the salary increase is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel and recognise the sacrifices they make in protecting the country.
He explained that the increase would be applied on a graduated scale, with the percentage rising as the rank becomes lower.
Under the new arrangement, officers above the rank of colonel, including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals, will receive a 30 per cent increase in salary.
Personnel from the rank of colonel down to warrant officer will receive a 50 per cent increase.
The biggest increase of 80 per cent will go to personnel from the rank of private to staff sergeant.
The new pay package will increase the annual salary bill of the armed forces from N660 billion to N924 billion.
This represents an additional annual cost of N264 billion to the Federal Government.
The President said the decision was driven by the sacrifices being made daily by military personnel involved in operations against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in different parts of the country.
Tinubu said the men and women of the armed forces deserved better support because of the risks they face while protecting Nigerians.
“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation,” the President said.
He added that the welfare of troops and the modernisation of the military would remain priorities 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 said.
The President also linked the salary increase to his administration’s wider approach to national security, saying economic development would be difficult without peace and stability.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He urged military personnel to see the pay increase as an expression of the government’s appreciation for their service to the country.
“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.
“Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation.”
The salary increase comes as the Nigerian military continues to face major security challenges across several parts of the country.
Troops of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies have been involved in sustained operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents in the North-East.
Military personnel are also deployed in several states affected by banditry and kidnapping, particularly in parts of the North-West and North-Central regions.
In addition, troops are involved in operations against armed groups and other security threats in different parts of the country.
The continued deployment of personnel has increased public attention on the welfare of soldiers, particularly those operating in difficult and dangerous areas.
Military personnel often spend long periods away from their families and are exposed to the risk of death or injury while carrying out operations.
The government has also faced pressure to improve the equipment available to the armed forces as they confront increasingly sophisticated criminal and terrorist groups.
Tinubu said his administration would therefore combine better welfare with efforts to modernise the military.
The focus on junior personnel in the new salary structure is significant because lower-ranking soldiers form a large part of the military workforce and are often directly involved in frontline operations.
By giving personnel from private to staff sergeant an 80 per cent increase, the government is effectively placing greater emphasis on those at the lower end of the military pay structure.
The 50 per cent increase for personnel from colonel to warrant officer also provides a substantial adjustment for middle-ranking personnel.
Senior officers, including generals and officers above the rank of colonel, will receive a 30 per cent increase.
The structure means that while senior officers will receive the lowest percentage increase, their salaries will still rise substantially because their existing pay is higher.
The new arrangement is expected to increase government spending on personnel and will add N264 billion to the annual salary bill of the armed forces.
The decision also comes amid wider concerns about the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
The country has experienced significant increases in the prices of food, transport, housing and other basic needs in recent years, putting pressure on workers and households.
The Federal Government has introduced several measures aimed at easing the impact of economic hardship, while insisting that its economic reforms are necessary to place the country on a stronger footing.
For military personnel, the new salary package could provide some relief from the rising cost of living while also serving as an incentive for troops involved in difficult security operations.
However, improved salaries alone are unlikely to resolve all the challenges facing the armed forces. The effectiveness of the military also depends on adequate weapons, intelligence, logistics, training, housing, healthcare and other welfare services.
Tinubu’s promise to continue modernising the armed forces suggests that the government intends to combine the salary review with increased investment in military equipment and technology.
The President’s statement also places the salary increase within his administration’s broader security policy, which seeks to strengthen the capacity of the military and other security agencies to tackle threats to lives and property.
With security remaining one of the country’s major concerns, the Federal Government is under pressure to ensure that increased funding produces stronger results on the ground.
The salary adjustment therefore represents both a welfare measure and an investment in national security.
For the affected personnel, the key change will be felt from September 1, when the new salary structure is scheduled to take effect.
The government will also have to sustain the increased annual wage bill while funding other areas of defence spending, including equipment and military operations.
Tinubu said his administration remained committed to supporting the armed forces and providing them with the tools needed to protect Nigerians.