Senate seeks better pay for soldiers

Worried by the rising cost of living and worsening economic hardship, the Senate has urged the Federal Government to consider reviewing upward the minimum wage and salary structure of the men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces in line with current realities.

Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, raised the motion titled “Urgent Need to Increase the Minimum Wage and Improve Conditions of Service for Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies,” on Tuesday.

In the motion, Ndume said the nation’s troops and security operatives deserve better compensation, given the scale of risks and sacrifices they undertake to preserve national security.

The Borno South lawmaker reminded the Senate that Section 217(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowers the Armed Forces to defend Nigeria from external aggression, maintain territorial integrity, and assist civil authorities in restoring order when called upon.

“The current remuneration and minimum entry-level wage for many personnel across the services have been outpaced by rising living costs, with knock-on effects on morale, recruitment, retention, and operational effectiveness.

“The current minimum monthly wage for junior personnel in the Armed Forces ranges between ₦50,000 and ₦60,000, depending on rank,” which he described as “grossly inadequate in light of current economic realities, inflationary pressures, and the soaring cost of living,” Ndume stated.

The senator further observed that soldiers in other African countries earn far more than their Nigerian counterparts.

“In Ghana, the entry-level pay for a private soldier is equivalent to about ₦180,000 per month; in South Africa, ₦250,000; in Egypt, ₦230,000–₦280,000; and in Kenya, about ₦200,000, excluding operational allowances,” he said,

According to him, the wage level in Nigeria does not reflect the magnitude of sacrifices made by our troops who daily risk their lives in internal and external operations under extreme and hazardous conditions.”

The Senate, adopting Ndume’s motion, urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to review and substantially increase the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces.

It also mandated its Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force to liaise with relevant agencies to determine realistic remuneration benchmarks comparable to international standards.

Ndume insisted that boosting soldiers’ welfare is not only a moral obligation but a strategic necessity.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that Ndume had decried the poor remuneration for security agencies, saying that recruits are paid less than N50,000 a month.

Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, asked the Federal Government to urgently review the stipends and salaries of serving military personnel.

He also said Nigeria does not have enough security agencies and personnel to handle the security challenges of the country.

Making a case for the urgent increment of salaries for security agencies, the lawmaker representing Borno South said the Nigerian government last increased their salaries in 2008.

He also wants the government to recruit more security operatives, especially to make up for the manpower deficit in the Nigerian Police Force as well as the Nigerian Army.

Apart from salary increments and more recruitment, Ndume asked President Bola Tinubu’s administration to provide adequate equipment for the military to address the nation’s threats and also boost their morale.
Source: Punch