By Azeez Ope Quadri 
On August 4, 2026, President Bola Tinubu approved a 30% to 80% salary increase for members of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, comprising the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy. And on September 30, 2026, soldiers across the country confirmed the new payment.
Under the new salary structure, a General (Army) or Admiral (Navy) or Air Chief Marshall (Air) earning N2.5 million now earns N3.25 million per month, while the lowest rank, Private (Army), Ordinary Rating (Navy) and Aircraftman (Airforce) that earned N104,000 in August now earns N187,200 per month.
Who gets what in the new salary structure?
- Private to Staff Sergeant: 80%
- Warrant Officer to Colonel: 50%
- Brig.Gen to General: 30%
The new salary vs old salary structure
Below is a full list of what Nigerian soldiers earned before and what they earn now, beginning from September 2026, from the highest rank to the lowest rank:
| RANK | NEW SALARY | OLD SALARY | DIFFERENCE |
| Private | N187,200 | N104,000 | N83,200 |
| Lance Corporal | N201,600 | N112,000 | N89,600 |
| Corporal | N207,000 | N115,000 | N92,000 |
| Sergeant | N225,000 | N125,000 | N100,000 |
| Staff Sergeant | N270,000 | N150,000 | N120,000 |
| Warrant Officer | N306,000 | N170,000 | N136,000 |
| Master Warrant Officer | N315,000 | N210,000 | N105,000 |
| Army Warrant Officer | N345,000 | N230,000 | N115,000 |
| Second Lieutenant | N360,000 | N240,000 | N120,000 |
| Lieutenant | N420,000 | N280,000 | N140,000 |
| Captain | N480,000 | N320,000 | N160,000 |
| Major | N570,000 | N380,000 | N190,000 |
| Lt Colonel | N630,000 | N420,000 | N210,000 |
| Colonel | N870,000 | N580,000 | N290,000 |
| Brigadier-General | N975,000 | N750,000 | N225,000 |
| Major-General | N1.495m | N1.15m | N345,000 |
| Lt General | N2.47m | N1.9m | N570,000 |
| General | N3.25m | N2.5m | N750,000 |
Timeline:
September 2025: Before Tinubu’s announcement, the Armed Forces, especially junior officers, had lamented poor pay. For instance, in September 2025, they lamented over poor salaries and delay in payment of their allowances, calling on the president to look into it.
October 2025: A group of soldiers planned to stage a coup on Independence Day, their plans were foiled. The government initially denied it, but later said arrests were made. The coup plotters are still in custody.
August 4, 2026: Tinubu approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for about 250,000 personnel of Nigeria’s armed forces. The pay rise increases the yearly salary bill for the country’s armed forces personnel from N660 billion to N924 billion.
Special Advise to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, quoted the president as saying
“Our administration believes that no nation can achieve greatness without security. We therefore remain resolute in mobilising all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.
“I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland. Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation.”
Tosin Opeyemi