Tinubu approves 30 to 80% salary increase for 250,000 armed forces personnel from September
President Bola Tinubu has approved a salary increase of between 30 and 80 per cent for about 250,000 personnel of the Armed Forces, raising the military’s annual wage bill from N660 billion to N924 billion. The new structure takes effect from 1 September 2026 and represents the largest upward review of military pay under the current administration.
The graduated increases favour junior ranks. Soldiers from private to staff sergeant will receive an 80 per cent rise, warrant officers to colonels 50 per cent, and brigadier-generals to generals 30 per cent. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the structure scales inversely with rank, directing the largest percentage gains to those at the lower end of the hierarchy.
The Presidency linked the review to the sacrifices personnel continue to make against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. Tinubu stated that those who keep the nation safe must be supported, and that troop welfare and modernisation with advanced weapons and technology remain standing priorities.
Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), described the approval as a major boost to welfare and operational effectiveness. Retired senior officers largely welcomed the move as a morale booster capable of improving commitment, recruitment and performance. Several, however, stressed that higher pay alone is insufficient. They urged the Federal Government to complement the increase with modern weapons, improved logistics, accommodation, healthcare and other practical support.
Serving personnel expressed cautious appreciation. Many said they would reserve full judgment until the new figures appear in their bank accounts, noting that implementation has often been the weak link in previous welfare announcements. One senior officer calculated that a 50 per cent rise would lift his monthly pay from roughly N362,000 to N543,000, still below what some civilian counterparts earn but an improvement nonetheless.
Senators Abdulaziz Yar’Adua and Ahmad Lawan also commended the decision, describing it as timely and strategically fair because it prioritises frontline junior personnel.
The review arrives alongside recent structural changes, including the creation of additional army divisions. Its ultimate value will depend on two factors: whether the money reaches accounts on schedule, and whether the government pairs the cash injection with the equipment and logistics that determine operational success. Salary increases address one dimension of troop welfare. Sustained effectiveness requires the rest of the support system to move in the same direction.
