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

What the report says

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered a pay rise of up to 80% for junior soldiers, in a move the government says is meant to show support for troops facing the country’s worsening insecurity. BBC Africa reported from Abuja that the increase is the second in a month for the armed forces and comes as soldiers are deployed against multiple threats, including Islamist militants, criminal kidnapping gangs and separatist unrest.

According to the BBC, the biggest increase will go to privates through staff sergeants, whose monthly pay had already been raised in July by the defence minister. With the latest adjustment, privates are due to receive about $132 a month from September, up from $73 after the earlier rise. Higher ranks will also get increases, though at lower percentages. The changes will push the military’s annual wage bill higher.

Tinubu said the rises reflected the government’s appreciation for the armed forces’ role in confronting banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. He has also recently ordered the recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions, part of a wider effort to improve security operations and response times.

The pay decision matters because insecurity has remained a major national issue in Nigeria, with violence affecting several regions and shaping debate ahead of the 2027 elections. Military analysts quoted by the BBC said better pay may help morale, while also warning that broader welfare and equipment needs still require attention.