By Editor
President Bola Tinubu has approved a major salary review for Nigeria’s armed forces, with pay increases of up to 80% set to take effect from September 1.
The move is expected to benefit about 250,000 service members across the Army, Navy, and Air Force as the government pushes to improve troop welfare amid ongoing security challenges.
The salary adjustment was announced by presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga. Under the new structure, officers above the rank of colonel, including generals, will get a 30% increase. Personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will receive 50%, while soldiers from private to staff sergeant will see the biggest jump of 80%.
For the Nigerian Army specifically, the 2026 projected pay scale shows commissioned officers will now earn significantly more. A General is expected to earn ₦1,800,000 monthly, Lieutenant General ₦1,200,000, Major General ₦950,000, and Brigadier General ₦750,000. Colonels will take home about ₦550,000, Lieutenant Colonels ₦400,000, Majors ₦300,000, Captains ₦250,000, Lieutenants ₦200,000, and Second Lieutenants ₦180,000.
Non-commissioned officers also benefit. A Warrant Officer Class I will earn ₦150,000, Warrant Officer Class II ₦120,000, Staff Sergeant ₦90,000, Sergeant ₦80,000, and Corporal ₦70,000. At the entry level, Lance Corporal goes to ₦60,000, Private Soldier to ₦55,000, and Recruit to ₦45,000. These figures reflect the post-review expectations for 2026 and vary slightly across sources depending on qualifications and experience.
The federal government says the wage bill will rise sharply to accommodate the increase. The annual cost for armed forces salaries will jump to ₦924 billion from ₦660 billion, an increase of over ₦264 billion. Officials say the review is necessary to address low pay compared to other African countries, where Nigerian soldiers were reportedly among the lowest paid.
Beyond basic pay, troops will continue to receive several allowances that boost total earnings. These include Training Allowance of ₦15,000 to ₦35,000 monthly for recruits, Operation Allowance for those on field missions, Uniform, Transport, Housing, and Medical Allowances. There is also a Special Duty Allowance for specific assignments. Soldiers also get what is commonly called a “grumbling allowance” of about ₦20,000 monthly.
The timing of the increase comes amid pressure from military veterans. Veterans groups recently demanded immediate implementation of an approved ₦250,000 minimum pay for the least-ranked soldier, saying the National Assembly passed the bill in October 2025 and President Tinubu assented in November 2025. They argued the delay was hurting morale, even as the presidency confirmed the September 1 rollout.
President Tinubu said the administration remains committed to prioritizing troop welfare and modernizing the armed forces with better weapons and technology. With about 250,000 personnel set to benefit, the new pay structure represents the biggest welfare boost for the military in years. While entry-level recruits will still start between ₦45,000 and ₦55,000, the 80% raise for privates to staff sergeants means many junior ranks will see their take-home pay nearly double. The government hopes the package will improve retention, morale, and effectiveness as Nigeria continues its fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and separatist violence across the northeast, northwest, north-central, and southeast.
Yes, I can turn this into a downloadable table with all ranks and old vs new salary side by side.
Do you want me to include the Navy and Air Force equivalent ranks too, or just Army ranks for now?
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