The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a salary increase of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, Musa said the new salary structure, which takes effect from September 1, 2026, will benefit about 250,000 military personnel across the services.

Under the new structure, junior personnel from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant will receive an 80 per cent increase, while Warrant Officers to Colonels will get a 50 per cent raise. Senior military officers will receive a 30 per cent increase.

Musa described the approval as a significant boost to the morale and welfare of military personnel, particularly troops involved in security operations across the country. He said the adjustment also demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to improving conditions of service within the Armed Forces.

According to the minister, the salary increase will raise the annual personnel cost of the Armed Forces from N660 billion to N924 billion. He said the intervention would help ease financial pressure on personnel confronting insurgency in the North-East, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other security challenges nationwide.

Musa urged officers and personnel to regard the improved remuneration as a renewed call to duty by intensifying efforts to tackle security threats, protect civilian lives and restore stability in affected communities. He assured the President and Nigerians that the gesture would be reciprocated with greater discipline and operational effectiveness.

The Defence Minister also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the Tinubu administration’s efforts to modernise military equipment, improve technological capacity and enhance the living conditions of military personnel and their families.