Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said the Federal Government has increased the monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 as part of efforts to improve their welfare.
Musa disclosed this during an interview on News Central on Wednesday, ahead of the programme’s scheduled broadcast on Friday.
Speaking on the welfare of military personnel, the minister explained that the government had worked hard to secure the salary increase, noting that the new pay structure represents a significant improvement for soldiers.
“When they started, a soldier was collecting ₦49,000 monthly. We tried so hard, now he’s collecting ₦100,000,” Musa said.
Despite the increase, the Defence Minister acknowledged that the military remains underfunded and that the current defence budget is insufficient to meet all operational and welfare needs.
Responding to a question on whether the defence budget was adequate, Musa replied, “It’s not enough.”
The minister also addressed allegations of poor feeding within the military, dismissing claims circulating in the public space as misleading.
Referring to an incident involving a dismissed military officer identified as Justice Crack, Musa alleged that the officer deliberately created a false impression about the quality of meals served to soldiers.
“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 stated.
He maintained that the welfare of troops remains a priority for the Federal Government, while also stressing the need for increased funding to strengthen military operations and support personnel effectively.
