In a compelling motion presented in Abuja, Ali Ndume, Senator for Borno South and former Senate Leader, has called on the Federal Government to overhaul the salary and welfare of personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces and allied security agencies.
Titled “Urgent Need to Increase the Minimum Wage and Improve Conditions of Service for Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies”, the motion underscores the critical gap between soldiers’ pay and the demands of their duties — especially amid spiralling inflation and expanding security challenges across Nigeria.
Senator Ndume pointed out that junior ranks currently earn between ₦50,000 and ₦60,000 per month depending on rank — an amount he described as “grossly inadequate” in view of today’s economic realities and the risks that uniformed personnel face daily.
Using several African countries as benchmarks, he argued Nigeria’s pay structure for its troops falls far behind: in Ghana a private soldier earns the equivalent of about ₦180,000 monthly; in South Africa about ₦250,000; Egypt between ₦230,000–₦280,000; and Kenya around ₦200,000 (all excluding operational allowances).
According to the motion, the under-remuneration is fostering low morale, attrition, recruitment difficulties and, in some cases, financial hardship among serving personnel.
To address this, the Senate is being urged to direct the Government, via the Ministries of Defence, Finance, Budget & National Planning, and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, to review and substantially raise the minimum wage and salary structure for the Armed Forces.
Additional recommendations include:
* Tasking the Senate Committees on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force to establish realistic remuneration benchmarks based on rank and responsibility.
* Instituting a periodic review every three years to ensure pay scales keep up with inflation and international military remuneration standards.
Senator Ndume stressed that enhancing soldiers’ welfare goes beyond moral obligation—it is a strategic necessity if Nigeria is to sustain a motivated, effective defence force capable of defending its territorial integrity and ensuring internal security.
As legislators prepare to debate the motion, all eyes now turn to the Federal Government to respond with concrete actions and budgetary realignments.
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The move comes at a time when security challenges are mounting across multiple fronts, and the call for adequate support for those at the front lines of defence is resonating strongly.
