Despite pay rise, N100,000 salary still inadequate for soldiers — Ex-military officers

Security analyst, retired Major Muhammad Bashir Galma has described the Federal Government’s decision to increase the soldiers minimum salary to ₦100,000 as a positive development, saying it could boost the morale of troops fighting insurgency and other security threats. However, he argued that the increase is still inadequate given the country’s current economic realities.

In an interview with DAILY POST, Galma said the government deserves credit for taking steps to improve soldiers’ welfare but maintained that the new salary falls short of meeting the cost of living.

“We cannot say the government has not made an effort. But when you consider the current economic situation, ₦100,000 is not enough to meet a person’s monthly needs,” he said.

Last week, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), announced plans by the Federal Government to raise the minimum salary of junior military personnel to ₦100,000 from the previous ₦49,000 monthly entry wage.

Despite this adjustment to nearly double their previous pay, the Minister acknowledged that military funding remains inadequate to effectively tackle current security challenges

The announcement has sparked widespread debate, with many Nigerians questioning whether the increase reflects the risks soldiers face while carrying out their duties.

Galma acknowledged that soldiers receive additional allowances but insisted that the salary increase alone is not enough. He also questioned whether the government has the financial capacity to sustain the new wage structure.

“Although there are other allowances paid to soldiers, ₦100,000 is still not enough, the bigger question is whether the government has the funds to implement this policy. We have seen the government resort to borrowing as the cost of everything continues to rise, we hope the money is available to implement this plan without taking on more debt. We also call on the government to review the salaries of soldiers and other security personnel again in the near future,” he said.

Another former senior military officer who voluntarily retired, and requested anonymity told DAILY POST that poor remuneration is only one of several challenges confronting personnel in the armed forces.

According to him, shortages of modern equipment and alleged unfair treatment by some senior officers continue to affect morale within the military.

“There are problems such as inadequate modern equipment and unfair treatment in the payment of entitlements by some senior officers. Unless these issues are addressed, there is still a long way to go, that is why you see experienced soldiers leaving the service at a time when they are needed most,” the retired officer said.

Public debate continues over the proposed salary increase, with many observers expressing hope that improved welfare for military personnel will strengthen national security and enhance the effectiveness of the armed forces.