RismadarVoice Reporters, August 11, 2026
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving salary increases for about 250,000 personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, describing the move as a significant step towards improving the morale and welfare of military personnel.
Tinubu recently approved salary increases ranging from 30 to 80 per cent for personnel of the Armed Forces, with the new rates expected to take effect next month.
Under the new salary structure, the annual wage bill for the military will increase from about N660 billion to N924 billion.
Officers above the rank of colonel, including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals, will receive a 30 per cent increase.
Personnel from the rank of colonel to warrant officer will receive a 50 per cent increase, while those from private to staff sergeant will get an 80 per cent increase.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Ndume, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on Army, said the salary review demonstrated the President’s commitment to addressing insecurity in the country.
He linked the salary increase to the government’s broader efforts to strengthen the military, including the recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12.
“This coming after his recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12 shows that Mr President has his own blueprint aimed at dealing with the scourge of terrorism and banditry,” Ndume said.
He said the salary review would help motivate military personnel, noting that he had consistently advocated improved welfare and decent wages for officers and soldiers.
According to him, the President had demonstrated responsiveness by addressing legitimate concerns surrounding the welfare of military personnel.
However, the Borno South Senator stressed that improved salaries alone would not be enough to defeat insurgency and banditry.
He urged the Federal Government to complement the salary increase with the timely provision of arms, ammunition, equipment, training and other operational logistics.
“I have always argued that aside from better welfare packages and training, what they need to deal with insurgents is prompt supply of arms and ammunition,” Ndume said.
He also called on Tinubu to sustain efforts to provide the military with modern weapons and technological equipment required to effectively carry out its duties.
The former Senate Leader further advocated placing the annual defence budget on a First Line Charge to reduce bureaucratic delays in the release of funds.
According to him, the current envelope budgeting system creates unnecessary bottlenecks between the Ministries of Defence and Finance, which can hinder military operations.
“All these can be achieved seamlessly if we put their annual budget on First Line Charge. This envelope budgeting is trapped in unnecessary bureaucracy between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Finance. It is a big encumbrance to effective operations of our men and officers in the war theatre,” he said.
Ndume urged President Tinubu to consider direct statutory transfers from the Federation Account to the military, similar to the funding arrangement enjoyed by some government agencies.
“Mr President should seize the initiative to ensure direct statutory transfer from the Federation Account for the military as it is done with a few agencies of government,” he added.
