Tinubu Approves 80% Salary Increase For Military Personnel…

President Bola Tinubu has approved salary increases ranging from 30 per cent to 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Key Highlights

• President Bola Tinubu has approved salary increases of between 30% and 80% for Nigerian Armed Forces personnel.
• The new salary structure takes effect from September 1, 2026.
• About 250,000 military personnel are expected to benefit from the pay review.
• Junior personnel, from private to staff sergeant, will receive the highest increase of 80%.
• Personnel from colonel to warrant officer will receive a 50% salary increase.

The new pay structure, which is expected to benefit about 250,000 military personnel, will take effect from September 1, 2026.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to Onanuga, the salary increase is structured according to rank, with the highest percentage adjustment going to junior personnel.

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 the rank of colonel down to warrant officer will receive a 50 per cent increase, while those from private to staff sergeant will get an 80 per cent increase.

The new salary structure will increase the annual wage bill of the armed forces from N660 billion to N924 billion, representing an additional N264 billion expenditure annually.

Tinubu linked the decision to the sacrifices made by military personnel in the ongoing fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.

The President said the men and women responsible for protecting Nigerians deserved greater support and appreciation for their service to the nation.

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He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving troop welfare and modernising the armed forces through the provision of weapons, equipment and technological tools.

Tinubu said national security remained central to his administration’s agenda, stressing that no nation could achieve meaningful development without adequate security.

He urged military personnel to regard the salary increase as a demonstration of the government’s appreciation for their service and sacrifices.

The President further assured Nigerians that his administration would continue to mobilise military and law enforcement resources towards tackling security threats and protecting lives and property across the country.