President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a new salary structure for Nigeria's Armed Forces, lifting monthly pay for a General to N3.25 million and raising a Private's earnings to N187,200. The pay rise, which takes effect from September 1, 2026, covers approximately 250,000 military personnel across all ranks.
New Salary Structure Details
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a statement, noting that the new package takes effect from September 1, 2026, and covers roughly 250,000 military personnel across all ranks. According to Daily Trust, pay increases under the scheme range from 30 per cent to 80 per cent, depending on rank.
Senior officers above the rank of Colonel, including Brigadier-Generals, Major-Generals, Lieutenant-Generals, and Generals, will receive the lower end of the scale at 30 per cent. Lower-ranked personnel stand to gain significantly more, with some categories attracting increases of up to 80 per cent.
Impact on the Military Pay Bill
The wider financial effect of the new structure is substantial. Nigeria's annual salary expenditure for the Armed Forces will climb from N660 billion to N924 billion once the pay adjustments take full effect, representing an increase of N264 billion per year.
The approval signals a significant shift in the federal government's approach to military welfare, bringing pay levels more in line with the economic pressures facing service personnel amid rising living costs across the country.
What Each Rank Will Earn
Here is the full list of new salaries, old salaries, and the amount increased, according to Daily Trust:
- Private: N187,200 (old N104,000, increase N83,200)
- Lance Corporal: N201,600 (old N112,000, increase N89,600)
- Corporal: N207,000 (old N115,000, increase N92,000)
- Sergeant: N225,000 (old N125,000, increase N100,000)
- Staff Sergeant: N270,000 (old N150,000, increase N120,000)
- Warrant Officer: N306,000 (old N170,000, increase N136,000)
- Master Warrant: N315,000 (old N210,000, increase N105,000)
- Army Warrant: N345,000 (old N230,000, increase N115,000)
- Second Lieutenant: N360,000 (old N240,000, increase N120,000)
- Lieutenant: N420,000 (old N280,000)
- Captain: N480,000 (old N320,000)
- Major: N570,000 (old N380,000)
- Lieutenant Colonel: N630,000 (old N420,000)
- Colonel: N870,000 (old N580,000)
- Brigadier-General: N975,000 (old N750,000, increase N225,000)
- Major-General: N1.495 million (old N1.15 million)
- Lieutenant General: N2.47 million (old N1.9 million, increase N570,000)
- General: N3.25 million (old N2.5 million)
Related Incident: Colonel Killed in Abuja
Legit.ng earlier reported that a serving Nigerian Army colonel was killed after gunmen attacked his home in the Kurudu District of Abuja on Monday evening, July 27, 2026. Colonel Abdussalam Ude reportedly fought back as attackers tried to abduct him, leading to a deadly confrontation at his residence. The Colonel's wife, driver, and security guard all suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
