The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu will soon announce a fresh salary increase for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister said the planned pay rise forms part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel and reward their sacrifices in safeguarding the nation.
General Musa recalled that during his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the monthly salary of soldiers was increased from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000, describing it as a major step toward enhancing the welfare of troops.
According to him, the government is now working on another upward review of military salaries to further improve the living conditions of officers and soldiers.
“I want to state here that a few weeks ago, I mentioned that soldiers are now receiving ₦100,000. When I was Chief of Defence Staff, soldiers were receiving ₦49,000. About two years ago, I pushed for an increase to ₦100,000, and that was achieved. We are, however, making further efforts to increase it again,” he said.
The announcement is expected to boost morale among members of the Armed Forces, many of whom have been at the forefront of operations against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.
While the minister did not disclose the proposed new salary figure or the date the increment will take effect, he assured personnel that President Tinubu’s administration remains committed to prioritising their welfare and ensuring they are adequately compensated for their service to the nation.
