By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, has disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will soon announce salary increase for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as part of the Federal Government’s sustained commitment to improving troop welfare and rewarding their sacrifices to the nation.
General Musa made this disclosure on Monday in Abuja during a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop organized for widows and wives of service personnel where he re-emphasised the Ministry of Defence’s unwavering resolve to champion policies and strategic partnerships that prioritise the holistic well-being of Nigerian troops and their families.
Recalling previous welfare benchmarks, the Honourable Minister noted that military pay was successfully raised from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 during his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff, adding that active steps are currently underway to secure an even better package for the troops.
“I want to state here that a few weeks ago, I mentioned that soldiers are now receiving ₦100,000. When I was Chief of Defence Staff, soldiers were receiving ₦49,000. About two years ago, I pushed for an increase to ₦100,000, and that was achieved. We are, however, making further efforts to increase it again,” General Musa stated. He further added that “I am confident that very soon, Mr. President will announce another salary increase for our men.”
Speaking on the theme of the workshop, “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” the Minister highlighted that a formidable military relies not only on tactical equipment and trained personnel, but also on economically stable households.
While expressing deep appreciation to the families of service members, the Minister commended military spouses for sustaining troop morale on the frontline and honored the perseverance of widows whose husbands paid the ultimate price for the country.
“To the spouses gathered here today, your resilience, patience, and steadfast support give your loved ones the confidence to remain focused on their responsibilities,” the Minister added. “To our widows whose husbands served Nigeria with honour, your strength and perseverance in the face of loss remain an enduring source of inspiration.”
The capacity-building initiative was organised by the Federal Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Earlier in his remarks, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, announced that a total sum of ₦25 million was disbursed to 500 widows and wives of soldiers currently serving on the frontlines to boost their small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures.
He said it is an ongoing programme that will go round the country to help beneficiaries gain financial knowledge and skills to confront modern economic challenges and serve as an opportunity to drive financial inclusion.
In attendance at event were , the wife of the Honourable Minister, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence Mr Richard Pheelangwa, other officials of the Ministry of Defence , SMEDAN development partners and other relevant stakeholders.
