Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered a salary increase of up to 80% for soldiers, effective from September. This marks the second pay rise for the armed forces within a month, following an increase in July by the defence minister.
The most junior personnel, from privates up to staff sergeants, will receive the largest increase of 80%. Warrant officers up to colonels will see a 50% rise, while brigadier generals up to generals will get a 30% increase.
This intervention means that privates, whose monthly wages were raised from $36 to $73 in July, will now receive $132. The president stated the increase is a sign of the government's "deep appreciation" for those confronting the nation's security threats.
The move is part of President Tinubu's broader efforts to address violence from various armed groups, including Islamist militants and criminal kidnap gangs. Last month, he also ordered the recruitment of 28,000 additional soldiers and the creation of four new army divisions.
The military's annual wage bill is expected to jump from $484m to $678m as a result of these salary hikes. Military expert Bashir Galma, a retired major general, welcomed the increases but expressed concern about the sustainability of such funding for future administrations.