The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has described salary increase of between 30 and 80 per cent approved for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria by President Bola Tinubu as a booster for morale and welfare of the troops.

Musa said this while expressing profound appreciation to President Tinubu for approving a salary increase for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in a statement issued by his media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde on Tuesday.

He added that new salary structure, which takes effect from September 1, 2026, will benefit about 250,000 military personnel across the services.

The Presidency had in statement on Tuesday said under the new package, personnel from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant will receive an 80 per cent salary increase, those from Warrant Officer to Colonel will get a 50 per cent increase, while senior officers above the rank of Colonel will receive a 30 per cent pay rise.

The Defence Minister said the structure of the salary review demonstrates the President’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of frontline troops and commitment to commitment to security sector reform.

“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has once again demonstrated unwavering leadership and empathy for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line daily to preserve the peace and territorial integrity of our nation. By raising the annual personnel cost from N660 billion to N924 billion, the President has matched words with concrete action, proving that the welfare of our troops remains paramount,” he said.

“This subversion of financial hardship for our officers and soldiers will resonate across every theatre of operation; from those confronting insurgency in the North East to troops tackling banditry, oil theft, and kidnapping across the country. On behalf of the entire defence structure, we assure Mr. President and the Nigerian public that this gesture will be met with renewed vigour, uncompromising discipline, and heightened operational effectiveness.”

Musa therefore urged officers and men of the Armed Forces to regard the improved conditions of service as a renewed call to duty by intensifying efforts to neutralise security threats, protect civilian lives and restore peace across the country.

Musa also reaffirmed the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to President Tinubu’s agenda of modernising military equipment, strengthening technological capacity and improving the welfare of military personnel and their families.