The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar? No—during a television interview, Minister of Defence Christopher Musa disclosed that the Federal Government has increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000. He also dismissed allegations that troops are poorly fed, while acknowledging that the military still requires more funding to meet its operational needs.
The Federal Government has more than doubled the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 as part of efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel.
Minister of Defence Christopher Musa disclosed the salary adjustment during an interview with News Central, where he also rejected claims that Nigerian soldiers are poorly fed and admitted that the Armed Forces remain underfunded despite recent welfare improvements.
Speaking on the government’s welfare initiatives, Musa said the Tinubu administration had prioritised improving the living conditions of rank-and-file soldiers.
According to him, the increase represents a significant improvement from the previous minimum monthly salary of ₦49,000.
Despite the salary review, the minister acknowledged that Nigeria’s defence budget remains inadequate to fully address the country’s growing security challenges.
Responding to questions on funding, Musa said the current allocation was “not enough,” stressing that additional resources would further strengthen military operations across the country.
The minister also dismissed viral allegations suggesting Nigerian soldiers are poorly fed.
Referring to the controversy involving social media influencer Justice Mark Chidiebere, popularly known as Justice Crack, Musa alleged that videos circulated online had been manipulated to create a misleading impression of soldiers’ welfare.
According to him, food items, including meat, were deliberately removed before the videos were recorded to portray poor feeding conditions. The influencer is currently facing legal proceedings following his arrest earlier this year.
Musa maintained that although troop welfare has improved through salary reviews and other interventions, the Armed Forces still require greater financial support to effectively tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving soldiers’ welfare while calling for increased investment in Nigeria’s defence sector to enhance operational effectiveness.
The salary increase marks one of the most significant welfare adjustments for Nigerian soldiers in recent years. While the government says the review is intended to boost morale and operational efficiency, the Defence Minister insists that additional funding remains essential for the military to effectively confront the country’s evolving security challenges.