By Emmanuel Daudu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will soon announce a new salary increase for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen troop welfare and reward their sacrifices, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has disclosed.
General Musa made the announcement on Monday in Abuja during a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of service personnel, where he reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of military personnel and their families through strategic policies and partnerships.
The Minister said the planned pay review would build on the previous increase that raised the minimum salary for soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 during his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff.
“I want to state here that a few weeks ago, I mentioned that soldiers are now receiving ₦100,000. When I was Chief of Defence Staff, soldiers were receiving ₦49,000. About two years ago, I pushed for an increase to ₦100,000, and that was achieved. We are, however, making further efforts to increase it again,” General Musa said.
He added, “I am confident that very soon, Mr. President will announce another salary increase for our men.”
Speaking on the theme, “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” the Defence Minister stressed that the strength of the military depends not only on operational capability but also on the economic stability of the families of serving personnel.
He commended military spouses for supporting their loved ones serving on the frontlines and paid tribute to widows whose husbands died in service to the nation.
“To the spouses gathered here today, your resilience, patience, and steadfast support give your loved ones the confidence to remain focused on their responsibilities,” he said, adding that the courage and perseverance of military widows remain a source of inspiration.
The capacity-building programme was organised by the Federal Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Earlier, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, announced the disbursement of ₦25 million to 500 widows and wives of soldiers currently serving on the frontlines to support their businesses and entrepreneurial ventures.
According to him, the initiative is part of a nationwide programme aimed at equipping beneficiaries with financial knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, while promoting financial inclusion across the country.
The event was attended by the wife of the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, senior officials of the Ministry of Defence, SMEDAN development partners and other stakeholders.
The statement was signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, S.A. (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence.
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