ABUJA — The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to approve another salary increase for personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel.
The minister made the disclosure on Monday during a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of service personnel at Lungi Barracks in Abuja.
According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to rewarding members of the Armed Forces for their sacrifices in defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protecting the lives of citizens.
“I want to state here that a few weeks ago, I mentioned that soldiers are now receiving ₦100,000, and I know that generated both positive and negative reactions,” he said.
“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 making further efforts to increase it again. We know our President is a listening father who understands the sacrifices our troops are making and is committed to ensuring they are well remunerated. So, I am confident that very soon Mr President will announce another salary increase for our men.”
The workshop, themed “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” was organised by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
The minister said the initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving the economic well-being of military families, particularly widows and spouses of non-commissioned officers deployed in various operational theatres across the country.
He noted that while troops continue to confront complex security challenges and spend extended periods away from their families, their spouses and dependants play a vital role in sustaining their morale and operational effectiveness.
“Every day, our personnel confront complex security challenges in defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty and the protection of lives and property. Many serve in difficult operational environments, separated from their families for extended periods and exposed to considerable risks,” he said.
“To the spouses gathered here today, your resilience, patience and steadfast support give your loved ones the confidence to remain focused on their responsibilities. To our widows whose husbands served Nigeria with honour and distinction, your strength and perseverance remain an enduring source of inspiration.”
He stressed that a strong military depends not only on well-trained personnel and modern equipment but also on economically secure families, adding that the entrepreneurship programme is designed to equip beneficiaries with practical business and enterprise management skills to build sustainable livelihoods.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, disclosed that the agency disbursed ₦25 million to 500 widows and wives of soldiers serving on the frontlines under the empowerment programme.
Odii said the intervention aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to supporting small businesses and improving livelihoods through enterprise development.
He added that the President had earlier approved a ₦200 billion intervention fund for enterprises, comprising ₦75 billion in single-digit interest loans for manufacturers, ₦75 billion in loans for small businesses, and ₦50 billion in grants for nano-businesses, under which the military families’ beneficiaries were supported.
Keywords: Tinubu, Armed Forces, salary increase, Defence Minister, soldiers, SMEDAN, military welfare, Abuja.
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