President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a closed-door meeting with Nigeria’s top security and intelligence chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid growing backlash over soldiers’ pay.
The meeting, which lasted over two hours, included the National Security Adviser, service chiefs, heads of intelligence agencies, and other senior officials. It focused on a review of the country’s security situation across multiple regions.
The development comes days after the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed that Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum monthly salary of N100,000, up from N49,000. The announcement has triggered widespread criticism from both retired and serving military personnel.
Many described the new wage as inadequate given the rising cost of living and the risks associated with military service. Some also questioned whether the increase had been fully implemented, accusing the government of delaying a promised salary review announced by the President in March.
A retired soldier said the amount “cannot meet basic needs,” while others warned that poor welfare could weaken morale and operational effectiveness. Serving personnel, speaking anonymously, said low pay is already affecting recruitment and retention, with some troops reportedly going absent without leave.
The Defence Minister acknowledged that the military remains underfunded despite improvements in welfare, adding that Nigeria’s defence budget is still insufficient.
He also called for stricter penalties, including the death sentence for kidnappers, to address rising insecurity.
The meeting followed recent military operations, including airstrikes that disrupted a large terrorist convoy in the North-West and ongoing offensives against insurgents in the North-East. Despite these efforts, security challenges persist, with multiple attacks on military bases recorded this year.
As of press time, the Presidency has not released an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.
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