By Ado Oyeyemi
President Bola Tinubu has approved a new salary package for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, granting pay increases ranging from 30 to 80 per cent across different ranks in a move aimed at boosting troop welfare and strengthening national security.
The new remuneration package, which will take effect from September 1, 2026, will benefit about 250,000 military personnel nationwide.
The approval was announced on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the salary review was designed to favour lower ranking personnel, with junior officers and soldiers receiving the highest percentage increases.
Under the revised structure, officers from the rank of General down to Colonel will receive a 30 per cent salary increase. Officers from Lieutenant Colonel to Warrant Officer will enjoy a 50 per cent increment, while personnel from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant will receive an 80 per cent increase.
The adjustment is expected to increase the annual wage bill for the Armed Forces from N660 billion to N924 billion, representing an additional N264 billion in government expenditure.
Tinubu said the decision was in recognition of the sacrifices made by military personnel in tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.
He noted that members of the Armed Forces who continue to risk their lives to safeguard Nigerians deserve greater support and appreciation from the government.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving troop welfare and enhancing military capacity through the provision of modern weapons, equipment and advanced technology to strengthen operational effectiveness.
He also stressed that security remains central to national development, insisting that no country can attain meaningful progress without guaranteeing the safety of lives and property.
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Tinubu urged military personnel to regard the salary increase as a demonstration of the government’s appreciation for their dedication and service, expressing confidence that the nation’s security forces would ultimately overcome those threatening Nigeria’s peace and stability.
