President Bola Tinubu has said his administration’s ongoing security drives and reforms are yielding results and strengthening military response to security challenges across the country.
The president further stated that the Army has operationalised new formations in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Osun, moving units closer to hotspots and cutting response times when threats emerge.
“Our troops are now closer to vulnerable communities in these areas, strengthening our ability to respond swiftly and decisively when our people are threatened,” Tinubu wrote on his verified X account.
He added that the government is fast-tracking construction of new barracks and depots in Abuja, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Kogi, with a similar facility in Osun already completed.
The push, he said, pairs expanded operational footprint with better living conditions for personnel and their families.
Tinubu pointed to recent salary increases for servicemen and women as evidence that welfare is keeping pace with the demands placed on the Armed Forces.
He said feedback from troops indicates the pay adjustment is improving conditions for them and their households.
“Every deployment is a sacrifice made by a family too,” he said, pledging continued support for military families as deployments stretch across multiple regions.
The presidency, last month, outlined a tiered raise: 30% for officers above colonel, 50% for colonel down to warrant officer, and 80% for private to staff sergeant, lifting the annual salary bill from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion and covering more than 250,000 personnel.
In a parallel move, the Military Pensions Board (MPB) said it has implemented newly approved pension rates tied to the new minimum wage and will credit arrears to pensioners’ accounts effective October 2, 2026.
Squadron Leader Aliyu Mohammed, the board’s spokesman, said the adjustment follows the consequential review under the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024, and that arrears have been processed for payment.
The announcement comes after years of complaints from retirees over delayed adjustments and unpaid entitlements, including protests at the Finance Ministry in late 2024.
The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) had approved a ₦32,000 monthly pension increase under several federal structures, including the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS), effective July 29, 2024, with arrears accruing since then.
Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume praised Tinubu for fulfilling the salary pledge, calling it a morale booster that should translate into stronger results against insurgency, kidnapping and banditry.
“Making a pronouncement is one thing; redeeming your pledge is a different ball game entirely,” Ndume said, urging officers to “redouble their efforts” now that pay, recruitment and equipment are improving.
He also highlighted the activation of Army Aviation and the deployment of attack helicopters across the six geopolitical zones as force multipliers, while calling for tighter coordination between infantry and air assets.
By coupling forward-deployed formations with barracks expansion, pay rises and pension arrears, the administration is framing security as a function of proximity, logistics and human capital—not just firepower.
The test, as lawmakers and retirees alike note, will be whether these measures shorten response times in flashpoint states and sustain morale over prolonged operations.
