Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Tinubu to introduce a direct funding arrangement for the Nigerian Armed Forces to reduce bureaucratic delays and ensure that soldiers have timely access to the resources required for military operations.
Ndume made the call while welcoming the Federal Government’s decision to increase the salaries of about 250,000 personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
President Tinubu recently approved salary adjustments of between 30 per cent and 80 per cent for military personnel, with the new rates scheduled to take effect from September 1, 2026. The salary review is expected to raise the Armed Forces’ annual wage bill from about ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion.
Under the approved structure, personnel from the rank of private to staff sergeant will receive the highest increase of 80 per cent. Those from colonel down to warrant officer are expected to receive a 50 per cent increase, while officers above the rank of colonel, including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals, will receive a 30 per cent increase.
Ndume, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on Army, described the salary adjustment as a significant step towards improving the welfare and morale of troops involved in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity across Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Borno South Senator said the decision demonstrated that the President was paying attention to concerns over the welfare of members of the Armed Forces.
According to him, improved remuneration could help motivate soldiers who operate in difficult and dangerous environments while confronting insurgents and other armed groups.
Ndume linked the salary review to the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture. He noted that the development came after the expansion of Nigeria’s military divisions from eight to 12, describing both measures as indications of a broader strategy to confront terrorism and banditry.
The Senator, however, cautioned that higher salaries alone would not be sufficient to bring an end to the country’s security challenges.
He argued that soldiers also need adequate weapons, ammunition, training, technology and other operational equipment to perform effectively on the battlefield.
For Ndume, welfare and operational readiness must go together if the Government expects the military to achieve sustainable results against insurgents and other security threats.
He therefore appealed to President Tinubu to maintain the administration’s commitment to providing modern weapons and technological equipment to the Armed Forces.
The Senator also raised concerns about the process through which defence funds are released and managed, arguing that unnecessary administrative procedures could slow down military operations.
He called for the annual defence budget to be placed on a First Line Charge arrangement.
According to him, such a system would help remove some of the bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with the release of funds through the conventional budgetary process.
Ndume argued that the current envelope-budgeting arrangement creates delays between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Finance, with consequences for military operations.
He maintained that commanders and troops operating in conflict zones require predictable access to funds and equipment, particularly when dealing with rapidly changing security situations.
The Senator therefore proposed that the President consider a direct statutory transfer of funds from the Federation Account to the military, similar to the funding arrangements available to some government institutions.
He said such an arrangement would allow the Armed Forces to access approved resources more efficiently and reduce the administrative hurdles that can affect procurement, logistics and other operational requirements.
The proposal comes at a time when Nigeria continues to battle several security threats, including terrorism and banditry. The country’s military has remained heavily involved in counter-insurgency and other internal security operations across different parts of the country.
The salary increase approved by Tinubu is consequently being viewed as part of a wider effort to improve military welfare and strengthen the capacity of the Armed Forces.
The new salary structure is particularly significant for lower-ranking personnel because they are set to receive the largest percentage increase. Privates through staff sergeants will receive an 80 per cent adjustment, compared with 50 per cent for personnel from warrant officer to colonel and 30 per cent for officers above colonel.
The increase also represents a substantial rise in the Government’s personnel expenditure on the Armed Forces, with the annual wage bill expected to move from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion.
Ndume said the decision should be followed by continued attention to other aspects of military welfare.
He has consistently argued that better pay is important for retaining personnel and maintaining morale, but that compensation must be accompanied by appropriate working conditions and equipment.
His latest position is therefore centred on ensuring that the financial resources allocated to the military are not only approved but also released quickly enough to meet operational needs.
The Senator said the Government should also ensure the prompt provision of arms and ammunition, stressing that soldiers cannot effectively confront insurgents without adequate equipment.
He further urged the administration to continue investing in training and modern technology as part of efforts to strengthen the Armed Forces.
The call for direct funding also reflects a broader concern about the relationship between military financing and operational effectiveness. In situations where troops require urgent supplies, delays in the movement of funds can affect procurement and logistics.
Ndume believes placing the defence budget on a First Line Charge basis could address some of these challenges by giving the military a more direct and predictable funding mechanism.
The Senator’s comments also build on his previous advocacy for improved remuneration for security personnel. In October 2025, he had called for an upward review of military salaries, arguing that rising living costs had placed additional pressure on junior personnel and affected morale.
With the latest salary approval, Ndume appears to be shifting attention from the size of the pay increase to the broader question of how military operations are funded.
His position is that the Government should treat troop welfare, equipment and financing as interconnected elements of national security.
While welcoming the salary adjustment, he urged the President not to stop at improved remuneration but to ensure that soldiers receive the weapons, ammunition, technology and logistical support required to confront Nigeria’s security challenges.
For the Senator, the effectiveness of the salary policy will ultimately depend on whether it is accompanied by broader improvements in the conditions under which military personnel operate.
The approved salary increases are expected to commence in September, providing a significant pay boost for serving personnel across the ranks.
Ndume’s latest appeal consequently places emphasis on the next stage of the policy: ensuring that the increased government commitment to military spending translates into improved welfare, faster access to resources and stronger operational capacity for Nigeria’s Armed Forces.