Soldiers Now Earn ₦100,000 Monthly — Defence Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has disclosed that soldiers in the Nigerian Armed Forces now earn a minimum monthly salary of ₦100,000 following a welfare review approved by the Federal Government.

Musa made the disclosure during an interview with News Central on Wednesday ahead of its broadcast on the station’s NC Exclusive programme on Friday.

Speaking on military funding, the minister admitted that the current defence budget remains inadequate despite improvements in personnel welfare.

Responding to a question on whether the existing budget sufficiently meets the needs of the Armed Forces, Musa said it was not enough but noted that the government had taken steps to improve the welfare of military personnel.

“When they started, a soldier was collecting ₦49,000 monthly. We tried so hard, now he’s collecting ₦100,000,” he said.

The minister also called for the introduction of the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, arguing that stronger sanctions are necessary to discourage the growing menace of abductions across the country.

According to him, the existing legal framework does not provide sufficient deterrence for criminals.

“I think we should do that. There must be deterrence. The laws are soft, and that’s why people take advantage. If they know once you commit an offence, there must be punishment,” Musa stated.

Commenting on the recent abduction of pupils in Oyo State, the minister described the incident as unfortunate, alleging that the kidnappers were attempting to pressure the military into releasing some of their detained commanders.

He said the abductors had threatened to kill the children if security forces intensified rescue efforts, making the situation more delicate.

Musa also dismissed reports alleging poor feeding conditions within the military, insisting that claims circulating in the public space were misleading.

Referring to an incident involving a military officer identified as Justice Crack, the minister alleged that the officer deliberately removed portions of food from a meal before recording a video to create the impression that soldiers were poorly fed.

He maintained that the welfare of military personnel remains a priority for the Federal Government despite ongoing funding challenges facing the nation’s defence sector.