Minister of Defence Christopher Musa has urged military personnel to treat the newly approved salary increase as a renewed call to duty.
President Bola Tinubu approved salary adjustments ranging from 30 to 80 per cent for members of the Armed Forces, effective from September 1, 2026.
The package is expected to benefit about 250,000 personnel.
Junior ranks from Private to Staff Sergeant will receive an 80 per cent increase. Warrant officers, middle-ranking officers and personnel up to the rank of Colonel will receive 50 per cent, while senior military leaders will receive 30 per cent.
Musa described the decision as a major boost to morale and evidence of the administration’s commitment to troop welfare.
Annual military personnel costs are expected to rise from N660 billion to N924 billion.
The minister said improved remuneration should strengthen operations against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and oil theft.
He assured the President that military personnel would respond with greater discipline, commitment and operational effectiveness.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu also welcomed the increase, describing it as an investment in national security.
He urged military and other security personnel to uphold professionalism, fairness and respect for human rights.
In Kaduna, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, called for stronger community policing.
Represented by Adamu Lamido Sanusi, the Sultan said residents, particularly young people, had valuable knowledge that could support intelligence gathering and crime prevention.
He said sustainable peace required cooperation between security agencies, religious leaders, youth groups and local communities.
Participants at the Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity also stressed that military operations alone could not produce lasting peace without justice, effective governance and economic opportunities.
