President Bola Tinubu has approved a salary increase of between 30 and 80 per cent for members of Nigeria’s Armed Forces in a move aimed at improving troop welfare and boosting morale.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, about 250,000 military personnel will benefit from the new salary structure, which takes effect from September 1, 2026.
Under the new arrangement, officers above the rank of colonel—including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals—will receive a 30 per cent salary increase. Personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will enjoy a 50 per cent increase, while soldiers from private to staff sergeant will receive an 80 per cent pay rise.
The statement said the new salary package will raise the annual wage bill for the Armed Forces from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion.
President Tinubu said the salary review reflects his administration’s appreciation of the sacrifices made by military personnel in tackling insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping and terrorism across the country.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising troop welfare and modernising the Armed Forces through the provision of advanced weapons and technological equipment needed to carry out their duties effectively.
The President stressed that security remains essential to national development, adding that the government would continue to mobilise military and law enforcement resources to eliminate security threats and safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.
Tinubu also urged members of the Armed Forces to see the salary increase as a demonstration of the government’s gratitude for their service and encouraged them to remain committed to defending the nation.
