Nigerian Soldiers' Minimum Monthly Salary Increased to ₦100,000, Defence Minister Confirms

Nigeria's Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, says the Federal Government has increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 as part of efforts to improve troop welfare. However, he acknowledged that despite the adjustment and other welfare initiatives, the country's military remains inadequately funded to fully address evolving security challenges.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, disclosed that the Federal Government has substantially reviewed the welfare package for military personnel by increasing the minimum monthly salary of soldiers to ₦100,000.

Speaking during an interview on News Central's NC Exclusive programme, the minister said the salary review forms part of broader reforms aimed at improving the welfare and morale of members of the Armed Forces. According to the minister, the minimum salary previously stood at ₦49,000 before the latest upward review.

While highlighting the improvement in personnel welfare, Badaru admitted that the country's defence budget remains insufficient to meet the growing operational demands of the military.

Responding to a question on whether current funding adequately supports military operations, the minister stated that available resources remain below what is required to effectively confront Nigeria's complex security challenges.

The minister also rejected allegations that soldiers receive poor-quality meals, dismissing viral social media videos that portrayed inadequate feeding within military formations. According to him, some of the online videos were deliberately manipulated to create a misleading impression of the welfare conditions of troops.

He alleged that social media influencer Justice Mark Chidiebere, popularly known as Justice Crack, instructed soldiers featured in one of the videos to remove portions of their meals before filming in order to exaggerate claims of poor feeding.

Badaru further called for stricter legal sanctions against kidnappers, arguing that stronger punishments, including the death penalty, could serve as a deterrent against rising cases of abduction across the country.

Commenting on the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren in Oyo State, the minister described the incident as deeply unfortunate and alleged that intelligence available to security agencies indicates that the abductors are attempting to pressure the military into releasing detained terrorist commanders.

He further claimed that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the abducted children should security forces intensify rescue operations. The minister maintained that while improving troop welfare remains a priority, sustained investment in military equipment, logistics, intelligence capabilities and operational funding will be essential to effectively combat insecurity nationwide.

"According to Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the Federal Government increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 as part of efforts to improve troop welfare.

According to the minister, the current defence budget remains inadequate to fully support the operational needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

According to Badaru, allegations that soldiers receive poor-quality meals were based on manipulated social media content that did not accurately reflect actual feeding conditions.

According to the minister, intelligence available to security agencies suggests that kidnappers involved in the recent Oyo abduction are seeking the release of detained terrorist commanders.

According to Badaru, stronger legal sanctions against kidnappers would serve as a deterrent and strengthen Nigeria's fight against violent crime".

The announcement comes amid growing public concern over troop welfare, military funding and Nigeria's security situation. While improved salaries may boost morale among service personnel, the minister's acknowledgement that the military remains underfunded highlights the broader financial and operational challenges confronting the Armed Forces.

The salary increase signals the government's continued efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel. However, experts generally note that addressing insecurity requires more than welfare improvements alone, including sustained investment in equipment, intelligence, logistics, personnel training and institutional reforms.

Nigeria's Armed Forces continue to confront multiple security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and oil theft across different regions of the country. Public discussions on troop welfare intensified in recent months following viral social media videos alleging poor feeding and inadequate living conditions for soldiers. The Federal Government has maintained that it is implementing reforms aimed at strengthening both personnel welfare and military operational capacity.

ℙℝ𝕆𝔾ℝ𝔼𝕊𝕊 𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎𝕊 𝕀ℕ𝕊𝕀𝔾ℍ𝕋𝕊

The reported salary increase reflects the Federal Government's recognition that troop welfare plays an important role in maintaining morale and operational effectiveness. However, the minister's acknowledgement that the military remains underfunded underscores a broader reality: sustainable national security depends not only on improved salaries but also on adequate investment in modern equipment, intelligence gathering, logistics, training and strategic planning. As Nigeria continues to confront complex security threats, balancing personnel welfare with institutional capacity will remain a critical policy challenge.