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- President Bola Tinubu says pay rise aims to boost morale of troops facing widespread insurgency, unrest and kidnappings.
- Package covers about 250,000 personnel and raises the Nigeria armed forces annual wage bill to 924bn naira from 660bn.
- The rise comes as living costs surge: inflation hit 30% in 2024, eased to 15.91% in June, and fuel prices more than tripled.
- Around 61% of Nigerians live in poverty, a 4% increase since Bola Tinubu took office, per the World Bank.
- Violent security threats include a 17-year jihadist insurgency, farmer herder clashes, secessionist agitation and widespread kidnappings.
defense spending
Tinubu is betting an 80% pay rise will steady a military stretched thin by insurgency and unrest. But it’s landing on a population that’s 61% poor and counting.
By
AFP
Nigeria will increase military salaries by between 30% and 80%, a presidential adviser said on Tuesday, as the government seeks to boost the morale of troops battling widespread insecurity.
The pay rise for about 250,000 personnel comes as many Nigerians grapple with rising living costs, as a range of reforms by President Bola Tinubu intended to boost the economy and reassure international investors continue to burden citizens.
Inflation soared to 30% in 2024 but has since slowed to 15.91% in June, while fuel prices have more than tripled in four years.
Around 61% of Nigerians live in poverty, according to the World Bank, a 4% increase from when Tinubu took office in May 2023.
Two military officials said that the least paid military personnel — a private — earns 100,000 naira ($73) basic salary per month.
Better pay package
“Officers above the rank of colonel will enjoy a 30% salary increase,” Tinubu’s media adviser Bayo Onanuga said in a statement.
“This applies to brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant generals and generals.”
“Personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will have a 50% increase, while private to staff sergeant will have an 80% increase.”
The pay package, to be introduced from September, will raise the annual wage bill for Nigeria’s armed forces to 924bn naira (about $678m), from 660bn naira, according to the presidency.
Deep appreciation
Nigeria is grappling with a more than 17-year jihadist insurgency in the northeast, alongside farmer-herder conflict in the north central region.
Violent secessionist agitation rumbles on in the southeast, while rampant kidnappings for ransom plague the northwest.
The pay rise was a “sign of our deep appreciation” for the military, Tinubu, who is up for re-election in January, said in the statement.
“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation.”
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