Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an 80% salary increase for the country's junior soldiers, alongside raises of 50% for warrant officers up to colonels and 30% for brigadier generals and above. The move aims to acknowledge the sacrifices of armed forces personnel confronting widespread insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.
"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," a statement from the president's office read. "I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland. Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation."
The salary adjustments are expected to increase the military's annual wage bill from $484 million to $678 million. Military expert Bashir Galma, a retired major general, described the pay hike as a long-anticipated measure but expressed concern about the sustainability of the increased funding for future administrations.
Nigeria's security forces are grappling with a multifaceted crisis. Insurgents such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remain active in the northeast, while heavily armed criminal gangs perpetrate looting and kidnappings across the northwest and north-central regions. The country also faces separatist unrest in the southeast and ongoing farmer-herder clashes.
Beyond salary increases, Galma emphasized the need for broader welfare improvements, including provisions for uniforms, boots, and modern weaponry. He also suggested that other security agencies should undergo similar pay reviews, stating that national security is a collaborative effort.
President Tinubu has pledged to continue prioritizing troop welfare and modernizing the armed forces with necessary weapons and technology. Recent reforms under his administration include an expansion of army divisions to 12 across the country, intended to enhance coordination, intelligence sharing, and response times to security threats.