West Africa: Nigeria Raises Military Pay Up to 80 Percent As Security Threats Persist

What the report says

Nigeria plans to raise military salaries by as much as 80% starting Sept. 1, according to AllAfrica’s distribution of a Daba Finance report. The move, announced under President Bola Tinubu’s government, is meant to improve troop welfare as the armed forces continue operations against insurgents, armed gangs and kidnappers across the country. The presidency said about 250,000 personnel will be covered by the new pay structure.

The reported increase is uneven across ranks. Junior enlisted personnel, from private to staff sergeant, would get the biggest boost at 80%. Warrant officers through colonels would receive 50%, while officers above colonel, including generals, would get 30%. The change would lift the annual military wage bill to ₦924 billion from ₦660 billion, adding ₦264 billion in recurring spending.

The salary decision comes amid persistent insecurity in several parts of Nigeria. The report says Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province remain active in the northeast, while armed groups continue attacks and kidnappings in the northwest and north-central states. Separatist-linked violence also remains a concern in the southeast.

AllAfrica’s report also notes that Tinubu has approved expanding the army to 12 divisions from 8 and recruiting 28,000 more personnel, with new divisions planned in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City. The broader policy reflects an effort to combine higher pay with more troops, equipment and readiness spending, though the article suggests the challenge remains whether added funding will improve security outcomes.