Senator Ndume Calls on Service Chiefs to Push for Improved Pay for Soldiers

In order to increase the motivation of Nigerian Armed Forces personnel, former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has encouraged Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, the new Chief of Defence Staff, and the Service Chiefs to advocate for improved compensation.
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decoration of the officers with their new levels, the lawmaker provided the recommendation on Thursday in a statement from Abuja.

On Wednesday, the Senate vetted and approved the appointment of General Oluyede and three others.

The Red Chamber also confirmed Major General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff in addition to the new Chief of Defense Staff.

The new service chiefs were decorated at the presidential palace by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday.

In response, Ndame, a senator from Borno South and the former chairman of the Senate Committee on Army in the Ninth Senate, argued that increased compensation was essential to boosting military morale in the battle against banditry, insurgency, and other threats to Nigerians’ lives and property.

“I have identified four pillars that would keep security threats at bay and make our military formidable at all times,” he declared. I have classified this as TEAM. Training comes first, followed by equipment, ammunition, and motivations, in that sequence.

Additionally, the member urged the current administration to prioritize the military budget by placing it under the First Line Charge.

“The First Line Charge should oversee the yearly budget for the armed forces and other security forces; it should not be left up to discretion. They ought to be loaded in front.

The former Senate Leader continued his argument for greater compensation by pointing out that, in comparison to their counterparts in nearby West African states, the salaries and benefits of Nigerian military leaders and soldiers are nothing to write home about.

The basic salary for enlisted servicemen in South Africa is around N250,000 per month (converted), while the entry-level salary for a private soldier in Ghana is roughly N180,000.

Junior enlisted officers in Egypt make between N230,000 and N280,000 per month, whereas a private in Kenya makes roughly N200,000, not including operational allowances.

Despite increased deployment frequency and operational challenges, the average private soldier in Nigeria makes substantially less money.

“Rising living expenses have outpaced the current minimum entry-level wage and compensation for many employees across these services, with knock-on effects on morale, recruitment, retention, and operational effectiveness—particularly for personnel deployed in high-risk theaters and remote locations.”