Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum monthly salary of N100,000, according to Defence Minister Christopher Musa. He confirmed the increase during an interview on News Central, which aired on the NC Exclusive programme on Friday. The minister explained that the Federal Government recently reviewed military personnel welfare, leading to the pay rise from the previous N49,000 monthly salary.
Salary Increase Details
Musa stated: “When they started, a soldier was collecting N49,000 monthly. We tried so hard, now he’s collecting N100,000.” The increase represents a significant boost, more than doubling the minimum salary for Nigerian soldiers. However, the minister stressed that despite this improvement, the military remains underfunded.
Defence Budget Still Inadequate
According to PUNCH, Musa responded to a question about whether the current defence budget was adequate by saying: “It’s not enough.” The former Chief of Defence Staff highlighted that while personnel welfare has improved, more resources are needed to strengthen Nigeria’s defence capabilities.
Call for Death Penalty for Kidnappers
Musa also advocated for tougher laws against kidnappers, including the introduction of the death penalty. He argued that harsher punishments would help deter abductions, stating: “I think we should do that. There must be deterrence. The laws are soft, and that’s why people take advantage.”
Oyo Pupils Abduction Incident
Commenting on the recent abduction of pupils in Oyo State, Musa described the incident as “unfortunate.” He alleged that the kidnappers were seeking leverage to secure the release of detained commanders. “For whatever reason, they are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us, and they feel taking these kids and holding them to ransom will make us release their commander,” he said. According to him, the abductors threatened to kill the children if security forces intensified rescue operations: “They are now threatening that if we come any closer, they’re going to kill all the kids.”
Military Feeding Allegations Dismissed
Musa dismissed claims of poor feeding in the military, insisting that such reports were misleading. Referring to an incident involving a military officer identified as Justice Crack, he said the officer deliberately created a false impression about soldiers’ meals. “The soldier’s food was okay. There was meat; there was all this. But he told them to pull out those things and make it look as if those things were not there,” Musa explained.
