Some personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces have confirmed that they have started receiving salaries reflecting the recently approved 80 per cent increase for junior military personnel under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The soldiers, who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday morning, said the new salaries began reflecting in their accounts on Wednesday evening.
According to them, personnel from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant are receiving the approved 80 per cent increase.
A Private, who previously earned about ₦103,000, now receives approximately ₦190,000, while a Lance Corporal whose previous salary was about ₦110,000 now receives approximately ₦202,000, according to the soldiers.
“Private soldiers ₦190k. Lance Corporal ₦202k, go on like that. It is exactly the 80 per cent as they promised,” one of the soldiers.
The development confirms an earlier announcement by Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, who said military personnel had begun receiving the newly increased salaries.
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👉 JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNELOlusegun disclosed this in a post on X on Thursday.
“I can categorically confirm that personnels of the Nigerian Military have now started receiving their newly increased salaries as approved by President @officialABAT in August,” he wrote.
He said the salary increase was expected to boost the morale of troops deployed in operations across the country.
“Another critical factor that is expected to boost the morale of our frontline forces as we continue to win the war against insecurity,” Olusegun added.
The salary adjustment follows President Tinubu’s approval in August of increases ranging from 30 to 80 per cent for personnel of the Armed Forces.
The new salary structure took effect from September 1, 2026.
Under the approved structure, personnel from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant are to receive an 80 per cent salary increase, while those from Warrant Officer to Colonel are to receive a 50 per cent increase.
Officers above the rank of Colonel, including Brigadier-General, Major-General, Lieutenant-General and General, are to receive a 30 per cent increase.
About 250,000 military personnel are expected to benefit from the new salary package.
The Presidency had said the adjustment would increase the annual salary bill for the Armed Forces from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion.
Tinubu, while announcing the approval, said members of the military deserved greater support because of their role in confronting banditry, kidnapping and terrorism across the country.
“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation,” he said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on August 4.
The President also said his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of troops while providing the Armed Forces with weapons and technological tools required for military operations.
The implementation of the salary increase comes as Nigerian troops remain deployed in various operations against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.
This recent increment followed exclusive reports done by SaharaReporters which revealed the struggles of the solders amid poor pay.
For instance, in September 2025, some personnel of the Nigerian Army cried out over the nonpayment of their allowances and poor salaries and called for a review from the President Bola Tinubu-led government.
According to the soldiers, attempts to complain have been met with threats by the army authorities.
They also called for a review of the allowances to reflect the current economic realities of the country.
Soldiers serving in the Nigerian Army have lamented the poor salaries of junior personnel in the country.
The soldiers while speaking to SaharaReporters accused the Nigerian government of failing to improve welfare package for military officers as a gesture to show appreciation for their efforts in securing the country.
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