Nigeria President Tinubu raises military pay and expands army divisions
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a major overhaul of Nigeria’s defence forces. Salary increases of 30 % to 80 % for armed‑forces personnel were announced, covering roughly 250,000 troops and taking effect on 1 September. Officers above colonel will receive a 30 % rise, colonels to warrant officers 50 %, and soldiers and sergeants‑major 80 %.
At the same time the president signed off on expanding the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions, creating four new formations in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City and authorising the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel. The reforms are presented as a response to evolving security threats and a means to improve operational response times.
Security groups and lawmakers praised the measures. The Society Security Initiative called the pay rise a “significant morale booster,” while the House Committee on Defence, chaired by Rep. Benson Babajimi, described the reforms as historic and essential for strengthening command, control and troop retention. The presidency also rejected speculation that the division expansion was linked to any coup plot, emphasizing that the changes are driven by security needs.
Entities: Benson Babajimi · Bola Ahmed Tinubu · Christopher Musa · Makurdi · Nigerian Armed Forces · Nigerian Army · Olufemi Oluyede · President Bola Ahmed Tinubu · Society Security Initiative (SSI)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The expansion includes recruitment of an additional 28,000 military personnel. (Presidential announcement)
- [● 3 SOURCES] President Tinubu approved expanding the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions, creating four new divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City. (Presidential announcement)
- [● 2 SOURCES] House Committee on Defence Chairman Benson Babajimi called the reforms historic and essential for national security. (Committee statement)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Officers above colonel will receive a 30% pay increase, colonels to warrant officers 50%, and soldiers and sergeants‑major 80%. (Presidency statement)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The presidency denied that the army division expansion was motivated by fears of a military coup. (Presidential spokesperson)
- [● 4 SOURCES] President Bola Tinubu approved salary increases of 30% to 80% for Nigerian armed forces personnel, effective 1 September, affecting about 250,000 troops. (Presidency announcement)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Society Security Initiative (SSI) praised the salary increase as a morale booster for the troops. (SSI statement)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The salary increase is expected to improve troop morale, productivity and retention. (Various officials and analysts)