Nigeria's president orders a 80% salary increase for junior soldiers

What the report says

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved a new pay rise for junior soldiers, marking the second increase in about a month, according to the Nile Post’s report based on BBC material. The move comes as the government seeks to bolster troop morale amid persistent insecurity tied to Islamist militants, separatist unrest and armed kidnapping gangs operating in different parts of the country.

The report says the defence minister had already raised the monthly pay of privates in July, from about $36 to $73. Under the new adjustment, privates and other lower-ranked soldiers will receive about $132 a month from September. Tinubu also set higher increases for other ranks, including 50% for officers from warrant officers to colonels and 30% for brigadier generals to generals.

The salary changes follow other recent military reforms announced by the president, including plans to recruit 28,000 more soldiers and create four new army divisions. A military expert quoted in the underlying report welcomed the increase but cautioned that the higher wage bill could be difficult to sustain over time. He also said broader welfare needs, such as equipment and weapons, still need attention.

More broadly, the pay rise highlights the pressure on Nigeria’s security forces as the country continues to face attacks and kidnappings in several regions, an issue that has become politically important ahead of the 2027 elections.