Mirian Gom 
Senator Ali Ndume
ABUJA, Nigeria – Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of salary increases for about 250,000 Nigerian military personnel, but says better pay must be matched with weapons, training and faster access to military logistics.
The Nigerian military salary increase will range from 30% to 80% and is scheduled to take effect next month, according to the approved pay review.
The adjustment will increase the annual wage bill for the Armed Forces from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion.
Under the new structure, officers above the rank of colonel, including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals, will receive a 30% increase.
Personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will receive a 50% increase, while those from private to staff sergeant will receive an 80% increase.
Ndume, the Borno South senator and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, praises the decision in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
“This coming after his recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12 shows that Mr President has his own blueprint aimed at dealing with the scourge of terrorism and banditry,” Ndume says.
He says the salary review will improve the morale of troops and reflects his long-standing advocacy for better welfare for military personnel.
“The review of salary will go a long way in motivating our military personnel,” he says.
However, Ndume warns that improved salaries alone will not be enough to defeat insurgency and banditry.
“I have always argued that aside from better welfare packages and training, what they need to deal with insurgents is prompt supply of arms and ammunition,” he says
“All these can be achieved seamlessly if we put their annual budget on First Line Charge,” he says.
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Oluwafunbi Bello 