Nigeria’s Tinubu approves military pay rise as security challenges persist
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved pay rises of up to 80% for members of the armed forces, the presidency said on Tuesday, in a move aimed at boosting troop welfare as the country battles insurgency, banditry and kidnappings.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has greenlit significant salary hikes for members of the armed forces, aiming to enhance their welfare amid persistent security threats. The pay increases, effective September 1st, range from 30% for officers above colonel rank to 80% for soldiers from private to staff sergeant levels, as detailed by presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga.
This move comes as Nigeria faces a myriad of security challenges, including Islamist insurgencies by groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast, banditry operations in the northwest, and a surge in kidnappings for ransom in north-central regions. These challenges have strained security forces and communities, despite increased military deployments and spending.
The new pay structure will escalate the armed forces' annual wage bill from 660 billion naira to 924 billion naira. President Tinubu pledged to prioritize troop welfare and modernize the armed forces with the necessary weapons and technology to combat these security threats.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
