The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has announced that the Federal Government has increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000, while rejecting claims that military personnel are poorly fed.
Speaking during an interview ahead of a scheduled television programme, Musa said the government remains committed to improving the welfare of members of the armed forces and dismissed allegations suggesting that soldiers are suffering from inadequate feeding.
His comments come months after social media influencer Justice Crack was arrested alongside several soldiers over videos alleging poor welfare and feeding conditions within the Nigerian Army.
According to military authorities, investigations showed that the influencer held discussions with soldiers that were considered capable of promoting discontent and undermining discipline, in violation of the armed forces’ social media regulations.
The Nigerian Army also alleged that Justice Crack encouraged personnel to present a misleading picture of their welfare conditions in an attempt to spread false information. While the soldiers involved remained in military custody, the influencer was transferred to civilian authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
In May, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Justice Crack bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety. His trial is still ongoing.
