President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday approved an upward review of 80, 50, and 30 percent respectively for personnel of the Armed Forces.
Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President in a statement said decision will lead to increase in the service personnel wage bill from about N660 billion to N924 billion a year.
The adjustment, effective September 1, will cover roughly 250,000 military personnel, the statement said.
Under the new scale, officers above the rank of colonel will receive a 30% increase; Brigadier and Generals will also receive a 30 percent rise; personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will get 50 percent and privates through staff sergeants will see an 80 percent boost.
According to Onanuga, the increments reflect the administration’s recognition of the military’s role in confronting banditry, kidnapping and insurgency in parts of the country.
“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated,” the statement said, adding that the government will continue to prioritise troop welfare and modernise the armed forces.
The presidency described the pay increases as part of a broader security strategy, saying no nation can achieve “greatness without security” and pledging to mobilise military and law‑enforcement assets to counter security threats.
The scale of the increase will have budgetary implications for President Tinubu’s administration, which has been trying to balance fiscal consolidation with social and security spending.
