President Bola Tinubu approves salary increases for Nigerian Armed Forces personnel, with the increases set at between 30% and 80%, according to multiple Nigerian outlets. The new pay package is reported to cover about 250,000 service members and is scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026. Coverage across outlets attributes the decision to a presidential statement delivered through the president’s information adviser, including references to Bayo Onanuga.
Premium Times and other reports describe the larger increases as applying to lower-ranking junior soldiers, while other sources broadly state that the increase varies by personnel category rather than being a single uniform figure. Separate reporting notes that the decision is welcomed by some lawmakers, including Northern senators who commend the move and frame it as a boost to morale.
An international outlet also links the timing of the pay rise to ongoing security challenges, citing continued attacks by Islamist insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP. Overall, the reported policy change centers on the approved scale of pay adjustments, the approximate number of beneficiaries, and the start date.
