Defence minister hails Tinubu over military salary increase, says troops’ welfare remains priority
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving a salary increase of between 30 and 80 percent for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The pay rise, which takes effect from September 1, 2026, is expected to benefit about 250,000 military personnel across the army, navy and air force.
According to the minister, junior-ranked personnel from Private to Staff Sergeant will receive an 80 percent increase, while officers and non-commissioned officers from Warrant Officer to Colonel will get a 50 percent raise. Senior military officers will receive a 30 percent increase.
Musa described the presidential approval as a major boost to troop morale and a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of military personnel and reforming the security sector.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again demonstrated unwavering leadership and empathy for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line daily to preserve the peace and territorial integrity of our nation,” he said.
“By raising the annual personnel cost from N660 billion to N924 billion, the President has matched words with concrete action, proving that the welfare of our troops remains paramount.”
The defence minister said the salary adjustment would ease the financial burden on personnel deployed across various theatres of operation, including those fighting insurgency in the North-East and tackling banditry, oil theft and kidnapping in other parts of the country.
“This subversion of financial hardship for our officers and soldiers will resonate across every theatre of operation. On behalf of the entire defence structure, we assure Mr President and the Nigerian public that this gesture will be met with renewed vigour, uncompromising discipline and heightened operational effectiveness,” he added.
