N187,200 to N3.25m: Military’s new pay scale

President Bola Tinubu has approved a new salary structure for Nigerian military personnel, which will significantly boost their monthly pay. Starting from September 1, 2026, a general will receive N3.25 million per month, while a private will earn N187,200. The pay increase ranges from 30% to 80% across different ranks, benefiting approximately 250,000 military personnel.

Officers above the rank of Colonel will see a 30% salary increase, while those from Colonel to Warrant Officer will receive a 50% increase. Privates to Staff Sergeants will experience an 80% increase in their salaries.

The new pay structure brings the annual salary bill for the Armed Forces from N660 billion to N924 billion, as announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The increase in the minimum monthly salary from N49,000 to N100,000 was previously revealed by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa.

However, an analysis by Daily Trust revealed that N100,000 could only sustain a soldier and his family for 21 days based on the National Bureau of Statistics' Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) report. Civil society organizations questioned whether the pay would be enough to support soldiers and their families in an economy with rising living costs.

President Tinubu cited the need to recognize the sacrifices of servicemen and women combating banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism as the reason for increasing military personnel's pay. He emphasized the importance of supporting and appreciating their efforts in keeping the nation secure while modernizing the Armed Forces with weapons and technological tools.