Wayne Lumbasi
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a significant salary increase for members of the country’s armed forces, with junior soldiers set to receive an 80% pay rise as part of efforts to improve troop welfare and strengthen the military’s operational capacity.
The new salary structure provides pay increases ranging from 30% to 80% depending on rank. Soldiers from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant will receive the highest increase of 80%, while Warrant Officers through to Colonels will receive a 50% raise. Senior officers holding the rank of General will receive a 30% increase.
The revised salaries are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026, and will benefit an estimated 250,000 personnel serving in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The government said the pay adjustment is intended to improve the welfare and morale of military personnel, enhance recruitment and retention, and ensure troops are better supported as they continue to confront the country’s complex security challenges.
Nigeria’s armed forces remain engaged in multiple security operations across the country, including the fight against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast. Troops are also battling armed banditry, kidnapping networks, and other forms of violent criminal activity in several regions.
The salary review represents one of the largest increases for Nigeria’s military in recent years. The pay adjustment is expected to increase the country’s annual military wage bill from approximately $485 million to about $679 million, reflecting the government’s increased investment in the welfare of its armed forces.
The latest move forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to strengthen the country’s security institutions and improve the welfare of security personnel as Nigeria continues to address persistent threats to national security.
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