President Bola Tinubu has approved a 30 to 80 per cent salary increase for about 250,000 members of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, raising the military’s annual wage bill from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion.
According to The PUNCH, the new salary structure will take effect from September 1, 2026. Junior personnel will receive the largest increases, with privates to staff sergeants getting an 80 per cent rise. Warrant officers to colonels will receive a 50 per cent increase, while brigadier generals to generals will earn 30 per cent more.
The Presidency said the review recognises the sacrifices made by military personnel in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving troop welfare and equipping the Armed Forces with modern weapons and technology.
The revised package will increase the military’s annual wage bill by ₦264 billion, making it the largest military salary review under the Tinubu administration.
Defence Minister Christopher Musa welcomed the decision, describing it as a major boost to troop welfare and operational effectiveness. He said the increase would ease financial pressure on personnel deployed across various theatres of operation and strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Retired military officers also praised the move, calling it a morale booster that could improve recruitment and operational efficiency. However, they urged the Federal Government to ensure prompt implementation and complement the pay rise with improved equipment, logistics, accommodation, healthcare, insurance and continuous training.
Some serving military personnel expressed cautious optimism, saying they would celebrate only after the new salaries are reflected in their bank accounts. While welcoming the increase, they noted that inflation and the current economic climate could reduce its overall impact.
The salary review comes weeks after the Federal Government announced the restructuring of the Nigerian Army with four additional divisions aimed at improving responses to security threats across the country.
