Nigerian President Gives 80% Pay Boost to Junior Soldiers

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:13:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

President Bola Tinubu just 80%’s up the monthly wage of Nigeria’s lowest‑ranking troops to $132 in a bid to curb rising violence. Find out why it matters.

Bola Tinubu has announced a staggering 80% increase in the monthly salaries for junior soldiers in Nigeria’s army, boosting their wages from $73 to $132. The move comes amid a surge of security threats from Islamist militants, criminal gangs and separatists, as the president seeks to reward the troops' courage and hard work. The increase also comes after a recent recruitment drive that added 28,000 soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions. Military experts say while the hike is welcome, sustaining the higher cost will test future governments.

President Bola Tinubu just 80%'s up the monthly wage of Nigeria’s junior soldiers, raising their pay from $73 to $132. The announcement follows a government drive that added 28,000 new soldiers and set up four new army divisions.

The move is part of Tinubu’s strategy to fight the country’s rising threats – Islamist insurgents, criminal gang kidnappings, separatist uprisings and land quarrels between farmers and herders. The president called the pay boost proof of the nation’s deep appreciation for the troops’ courage and sacrifices.

The new wage structure will push the army’s annual payroll from $484m to $678m. Soldiers’ raises are tiered: privates to staff sergeants gain 80%, warrant officers to colonels gain 50% and brigadier generals to generals gain 30%.

Retired major‑general Bashir Galma praised the hike but warned that future budgets could struggle to keep the spike in wages. He also urged other security agencies, such as police and intelligence, to get similar reviews.

The pay increase comes as the country heads toward the 2027 general election, with insecurity a hot political talking point.

For more on the security situation, check out BBC Africa’s discussion on gang-led kidnappings and the Boko Haram insurgency, as well as the new army divisions created this year.