Opposition political parties have expressed mixed reactions to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a new salary package for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, with some applauding the move as a long-overdue investment in troop welfare, while others questioned the timing of the decision.
The reactions followed Tuesday’s announcement by the Presidency that salaries for about 250,000 military personnel would increase by 30 to 80 percent, effective September 1, 2026.
According to the Presidency, the new pay structure will raise the Armed Forces’ annual personnel cost from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion, representing an additional ₦264 billion.
Under the revised salary structure:
- Officers above the rank of colonel will receive a 30% salary increase.
- Personnel from colonel to warrant officer will enjoy a 50% increase.
- Soldiers from private to staff sergeant will receive the highest increase of 80%.
Reacting to the development, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) welcomed the move, insisting that issues of national security should not be politicised.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said policies aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture deserve support regardless of political differences.
“National security takes preeminence over politics, and every government direction, decision or policy towards enhancing national security is a welcome development,” he said.
Similarly, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) described the salary review as a positive step.
Its National Chairman, Major Agbo, argued that the welfare of security personnel should not be viewed through partisan lenses.
“We are the ones crying that our security people are poorly remunerated. If somebody eventually now says, let them be paid more, why would anybody be talking about the timing?” he asked.
Agbo added that improved remuneration would boost the morale and commitment of troops in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
However, the Labour Party (LP) and the Obidient Movement questioned the motive behind the salary increase, although both acknowledged that improved welfare for military personnel was necessary.
Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, described the decision as long overdue but suggested it was politically motivated.
“It looks like it’s a political move done to score some political points. As long as it benefits the Nigerian servicemen who are putting their lives on the line to protect citizens, it is a welcome development,” he said.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, also said the President’s intentions would naturally come under public scrutiny because of the administration’s political record.
“As far as we are concerned, we only want the lives of our servicemen to be comfortable in their duties because they have sacrificed a lot. At the same time, we do not want them to be induced against the interests of the general public,” Tanko stated.
Meanwhile, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North, commended the salary review, describing it as a timely intervention that demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of military personnel.
“The decision by President Bola Tinubu to approve a salary increase for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces deserves commendation. It reflects an understanding that the welfare of those who defend our nation should remain a priority,” Kalu said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), Abdulrazak Namdas, described the new salary package as a significant morale booster for troops.
He also applauded President Tinubu’s approval for the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, noting that the measures would strengthen national security, particularly across Nigeria’s border communities…..See more