Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday confirmed that personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) have started receiving their September salaries, with the approved salary increase now reflected in their payments.
But public service workers under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) have declared a three-day warning strike from October 2 to 4, 2026, over what they described as worsening economic and mental hardship affecting workers and their dependants.
The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Samaila Uba, confirmed the upward review to newsmen in Abuja.
“The development represents the fulfilment of a promise by President Bola Tinubu to improve the welfare of military personnel. The efforts of the Minister of Defence and the Service Chiefs in consistently advocating improved welfare and better conditions of service for troops are also noteworthy,” a source said.
Some military personnel have confirmed receiving salaries reflecting the recently approved 80 per cent increase for junior military personnel under the Tinubu administration.
The soldiers said the new salaries began reflecting in their accounts on Wednesday evening.
According to them, personnel from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant are receiving the approved 80 per cent increase.
A Private, who previously earned about N103,000, now receives approximately N190,000, while a Lance Corporal, whose previous salary was about N110,000, now receives approximately N202,000, according to the soldiers.
The development confirms an earlier announcement by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who said military personnel had begun receiving the newly increased salaries.
Olusegun disclosed this in a post on X yesterday.
The salary adjustment follows Tinubu’s approval in August of increases ranging from 30 to 80 per cent for personnel of the Armed Forces, with effect from September 1, 2026.
Under the approved structure, personnel from Warrant Officer to Colonel are to receive a 50 per cent increase, while officers above the rank of Colonel are to receive a 30 per cent increase.
About 250,000 military personnel are expected to benefit from the new salary package.
The Presidency had said the adjustment would increase the yearly salary bill for the Armed Forces from N660 billion to N924 billion.