President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping salary increase for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, with personnel set to receive pay raises ranging from 30 percent to 80 percent under a new welfare package designed to improve troop morale and strengthen national security.
The new salary structure, which will take effect from September 1, 2026, is expected to benefit approximately 250,000 military personnel across the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who described the review as part of the administration’s broader commitment to improving the welfare of security personnel.
According to the breakdown of the approved package, officers holding the rank of Colonel and above will receive a 30 percent salary increase. This category includes Brigadier Generals, Major Generals, Lieutenant Generals and full Generals.
Personnel from the rank of Colonel down to Warrant Officer will enjoy a 50 percent increase, while the largest adjustment is reserved for soldiers from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant, whose salaries will rise by 80 percent under the new arrangement.
The Federal Government said the revised salary structure will significantly increase the annual wage bill for the Armed Forces from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion, reflecting what officials describe as a major investment in the country’s security architecture.
The latest approval comes amid sustained efforts by the Tinubu administration to improve conditions of service for military personnel battling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other security threats across different parts of Nigeria. Over the past year, Government officials have repeatedly stressed that troop welfare remains critical to improving operational effectiveness and boosting morale within the Armed Forces.
In his message, President Tinubu praised members of the Armed Forces for their courage, resilience and commitment to protecting the nation despite increasingly complex security challenges.
He acknowledged the enormous sacrifices made daily by military personnel serving in various theatres of operation and assured them that the Federal Government would continue to provide the support required for them to carry out their constitutional responsibilities.
According to the President, men and women who risk their lives to safeguard Nigerians deserve improved welfare, better equipment and stronger institutional backing.
He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to modernise the Armed Forces through continuous investment in weapons systems, operational technology, logistics and personnel development.
The President said national security remains the foundation upon which economic growth and national development are built, noting that no country can achieve lasting prosperity without a secure environment.
He therefore pledged that the Federal Government would continue mobilising military and other law enforcement agencies to confront terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities threatening lives and property across the country.
Tinubu also urged military personnel to view the salary increase as a demonstration of the nation’s appreciation for their patriotism and sacrifices.
He expressed confidence that with improved welfare and sustained Government support, members of the Armed Forces would remain committed to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and preserving national unity.
The announcement follows recent assurances by Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, that the Federal Government was finalising another round of salary improvements for military personnel after previous welfare reforms introduced earlier this year.
Military welfare has become one of the key focus areas of the current administration, alongside increased defence spending, expansion of the Nigerian Army, recruitment of additional personnel and acquisition of modern military hardware.
Only weeks ago, President Tinubu approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight divisions to twelve divisions, alongside the recruitment of about 28,000 additional personnel, a move aimed at strengthening military presence across strategic regions of the country.
Security analysts have long argued that improved remuneration and better working conditions are essential for boosting morale, enhancing professionalism and improving the effectiveness of military operations.
The newly approved salary review is expected to ease financial pressure on thousands of serving personnel, particularly junior ranks who received the highest percentage increase under the revised structure.
The implementation of the new pay package from September is also expected to have budgetary implications, with the Federal Government committing hundreds of billions of naira annually to sustain the improved remuneration.
While attention now shifts to the implementation process, the salary increase represents one of the most significant adjustments to military pay in recent years and underscores the Federal Government’s renewed emphasis on troop welfare as part of its wider security strategy.
With security challenges still confronting several parts of the country, Government officials maintain that improving the welfare, motivation and operational capability of the Armed Forces remains central to ongoing efforts to restore peace, protect communities and safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity.