President Bola Tinubu will soon announce a new salary increase for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve the welfare of troops, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has said.
Musa disclosed this during a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of service personnel held at Lungi Barracks in Abuja.
According to the minister, the government remains committed to ensuring that members of the armed forces are adequately rewarded for their sacrifices in protecting the nation’s sovereignty and citizens.
He recalled that soldiers’ salaries were increased from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 about two years ago following efforts to improve their welfare.
“I want to state here that a few weeks ago, I mentioned that soldiers are now receiving ₦100,000, and I know that generated both positive and negative reactions,” Musa said.
“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.”
He added that discussions are ongoing for another salary review, expressing confidence that President Tinubu would soon approve and announce the increase.
“We are making further efforts to increase it again. We know our President is a listening father who understands the sacrifices our troops are making and is committed to ensuring they are well remunerated,” he said.
The workshop, themed “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” was organised by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Musa said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the economic well-being of military families, particularly widows and spouses of non-commissioned officers serving in various operational theatres across the country.
He noted that while military personnel continue to face security challenges and spend extended periods away from their families, their spouses and dependants play a vital role in sustaining their morale and effectiveness.
According to the minister, economically secure military families enable service personnel to concentrate fully on their operational responsibilities, making family welfare an important investment in national security.
He explained that the entrepreneurship programme was designed to equip participants with practical business and enterprise management skills to help them establish sustainable businesses, generate income, and contribute to economic development.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, disclosed that the agency disbursed ₦25 million to 500 widows and wives of soldiers serving on the front lines under the empowerment programme.
Odii said the intervention aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to supporting small businesses and improving livelihoods through enterprise development.
He added that the President had earlier approved a ₦200 billion intervention fund to support businesses across the country, with the initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
