Government Raises Minimum Soldier Salary to N100,000

The Federal Government has increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000 as part of efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel, according to the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa.

Musa shared the update during an interview with News Central on Wednesday, ahead of the broadcast of its NC Exclusive programme on Friday. He explained that the government remains committed to improving soldier welfare despite ongoing challenges within the defence sector.

The minister admitted that the military budget is still not enough to fully support the needs of the armed forces. When asked if the current funding was sufficient, Musa replied, “It’s not enough.”

Speaking about soldier welfare, he highlighted the progress made in improving the income of lower-ranking personnel. He stated, “When they started, a soldier was collecting N49,000 monthly. We tried so hard; now he’s collecting N100,000.”

Musa also rejected claims that Nigerian soldiers receive poor meals, describing allegations by social media influencer Justice Mark Chidiebere, also known as Justice Crack, as misleading. He alleged that the influencer edited videos by asking soldiers to remove parts of their meals before recording.

“The soldiers’ food was okay. There was meat and other things, but he told them to pull them out and make it look like those things were not there,” he alleged.

The Nigerian Army later investigated the matter and accused Justice Crack of spreading false narratives and encouraging actions against military discipline. He was arrested in March alongside several soldiers before being handed to civil authorities. In May, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail of N5 million with one surety.

The focus on soldier welfare remains a key issue as the government continues efforts to strengthen the armed forces and improve military conditions.

What more steps should the government take to support Nigerian soldiers and improve defence conditions?