By Fatima Mukhtar
The Nigerian Senate has renewed calls for an upward review of salaries and welfare packages for soldiers, citing the poor pay and harsh conditions faced by troops battling insecurity across the country.
During a recent session, members of the Senate Committee on the Army lamented that many low-ranking soldiers earn between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 monthly, which they described as “grossly inadequate” given the risks and sacrifices involved in military service.
The committee chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, said the Senate would push for better welfare, life insurance, and compensation for the families of fallen heroes, following reports of troops killed in recent ambushes.
Similarly, Senator Ali Ndume, a prominent voice on defence matters, expressed outrage over the poor remuneration of recruits and field soldiers. “How can you pay a soldier less than ₦50,000 and expect him to give his best in fighting terrorists and bandits?” he asked, stressing the need for immediate intervention by the federal government.
Reports indicate that the Senate plans to engage with the Ministries of Defence and Finance to review the payment structure and ensure that frontline troops receive fair compensation and adequate support.
The renewed advocacy comes amid sustained military operations against insurgents and bandits across the North-East and North-West, where thousands of soldiers have lost their lives or sustained injuries in the line of duty.
Security analysts and civil society groups have backed the Senate’s position, warning that continued neglect of soldiers’ welfare could weaken morale and undermine the fight against terrorism.
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