The Nigerian Senate will on Wednesday deliberate on the need to increase the salaries and emoluments of personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies.
Details of a bill sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume which was sighted by Politics Nigeria show that the current remuneration and minimum entry-level wage for Nigeria’s security personnel across various security agencies have been outpaced by, with knock-on effects on morale, recruitment, retention, and operational effectiveness.
While making a case for the personnel, Ndume, who represents the Borno South Senatorial district, said that those deployed to high-risk theatres and remote locations, especially junior and mid-level ranks, are severely overstretched and also face financial hardship.
The lawmaker also expressed concern over the inadequate pay and delayed payment of allowances which he said can create vulnerabilities to corruption, reduce force readiness, and undermine public confidence in security institutions.
According to Ndume, the personnel who continue to play an indispensable role in safeguarding national security, combating terrorism among others are in dire need of a salary review.
Further citing Section 217(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the level of input made by these personnel, the lawmaker argued that the current minimum monthly wage for junior personnel in the Armed Forces which ranges between N50,000 and N60,000 has become inadequate.
He compared other African countries like Ghana and South Africa where private soldiers and enlisted personnel are placed on starting salaries of N180,000 and N250,000 equivalent and stated that an average Nigerian private soldier earns significantly less despite higher deployment frequency and operational demands.
He also warned that such poor remuneration affects morale, recruitment, and retention rates of these personnel while exposing them to economic hardship and other vulnerabilities.
In addition, the bill, recognised that a review of the national minimum wage is presently being considered for the general workforce, and that a special salary structure for the Armed Forces is both constitutionally permissible and morally justified given their unique role in the defence of the state.
It further resolved to urge the Federal Government through the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, to review and substantially increase the minimum wage and overall salary structure of the Nigerian Armed Forces in line with current economic realities; mandate the Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force to liaise with the relevant ministries and agencies to determine realistic remuneration benchmarks for different ranks, taking into account comparative international standards and call on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Assembly’s Appropriations Committee to make budgetary provisions for an enhanced Defence Personnel Cost in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
It also urged the Federal Government to implement periodic reviews of Armed Forces wages every three years to maintain parity with inflation and international benchmarks.
