Nigeria

Nigeria Boosts Military Pay Up to 80% for 250K Troops

Do higher military salaries strengthen security or primarily serve political interests?

Published AUG 5

Nigeria Boosts Military Pay Up to 80% for 250K Troops

Story

Above: Nigerian soldiers at the MNJTF military base, Sector 3 Headquarters, in Monguno, Borno state, Nigeria, on July 5, 2025. Image credit: Joris Bolomey/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

This is a bold, long-overdue commitment Nigeria's defenders deserve. Junior soldiers on the frontlines against Boko Haram and ISWAP are receiving the biggest raises, a move that directly targets morale, retention and recruitment where it matters most. Paired with plans to expand the army and invest in new equipment, it amounts to a serious, comprehensive strategy to strengthen the country's security forces.

Premium Times Nigeria Business Insider Guardian

Government-critical narrative

This looks more like an election stunt than a genuine security fix. Throwing more money at new army divisions is unlikely to stop ISWAP, bandits or kidnappers when corruption and governance failures remain the underlying drivers of violence. Real security requires tackling those root causes through meaningful reforms — not just commissioning new headquarters, expanding troop numbers and unveiling ambitious military plans ahead of a January vote.