Bomba Dauda
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will soon announce an upward review of salaries for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve troop welfare and reward their service to the nation.
The minister made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja during a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of military personnel. The programme, organised by the Federal Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), focused on entrepreneurship and enterprise development for military families.
General Musa said the Ministry of Defence remains committed to promoting policies and strategic partnerships that enhance the welfare of serving personnel and their families.
He recalled that during his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff, military salaries were increased from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000, noting that the government is working on another upward review.
“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,” he said.
The minister expressed confidence that President Tinubu would soon announce the new salary package.
Speaking on the theme, “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” General Musa said the strength of the military depends not only on well-trained personnel and modern equipment but also on the economic stability of the families they leave behind while serving the nation.
He commended military spouses for their resilience and support, saying their sacrifices help sustain the morale of troops deployed on the frontlines. He also paid tribute to widows of fallen soldiers, describing their courage and perseverance as inspiring.
Earlier, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, announced the disbursement of ₦25 million to 500 widows and wives of soldiers serving on the frontlines to support their businesses and entrepreneurial activities.
Odii said the empowerment initiative would be extended across the country to equip beneficiaries with financial knowledge and skills while promoting financial inclusion.
The event was attended by the wife of the Minister of Defence, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, senior ministry officials, SMEDAN development partners, and other stakeholders.
