Nigeria's salary increase for junior soldiers is the latest move by President Bola Tinubu to shore up the armed forces as the country battles multiple security threats. Under the new order, the lowest-ranking troops will see their monthly pay rise sharply, in what the president described as a show of deep appreciation for those facing banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.
The change means privates, who received a pay boost in July from $36 to $73 a month after a defence ministry decision, will now be paid $132 from September. Tinubu's intervention comes only weeks after that earlier raise and follows a broader push to strengthen the military's ability to respond to armed groups operating across the country.
That wider effort has already included a directive to recruit 28,000 additional soldiers and create four new army divisions. Tinubu has also said his administration will keep prioritising troop welfare while modernising the armed forces with the weapons and technology needed to confront insecurity. The army is now set to have 12 divisions spread across Nigeria, a change officials say is meant to improve coordination, intelligence sharing and response times.
In his statement on the pay rise, the president praised the courage and sacrifices of service members confronting what he called the scourge of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. He said those who keep families safe at home deserve support and appreciation, and urged troops to take the government's action as a sign of gratitude for their service to the country.
The decision comes against the backdrop of persistent violence that successive Nigerian governments have struggled to contain despite heavier spending and repeated military deployments. Islamist insurgents, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, remain active in the north-east, while armed criminal gangs continue to loot and kidnap for ransom in parts of the north-west and north-central regions.
