Military veterans have called on the Federal Government to immediately implement the approved ₦250,000 minimum wage for serving military personnel, accusing authorities of delaying the execution of a salary review already approved by law.
The demand was made during a retreat attended by more than 70 retired military personnel at the Armed Forces Headquarters Command Mess in Abuja.
Although the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, was unable to attend due to an official engagement at the Presidential Villa, he was represented by five senior military officers who received the veterans’ submissions.
Speaking after the meeting, one of the organisers, retired Colonel Innocent Azubike, said the military representatives acknowledged the documents presented and promised to brief the CDS immediately.
According to him, the veterans expressed disappointment that the approved salary structure had yet to be implemented despite repeated assurances from government officials.
Azubike explained that the National Assembly approved a bill in October 2025 to review the salaries of serving and retired military personnel after a comparative study revealed that Nigeria’s military pay was among the lowest in Africa.
He said the bill fixed ₦250,000 as the minimum salary for the lowest-ranking soldier, with funding included in the 2026 budget, before receiving presidential assent in November 2025.
The retired officer further claimed that President Bola Tinubu approved the implementation with three months’ arrears, adding that the Presidency, Ministry of Defence and military leadership had publicly welcomed the decision at the time.
However, he alleged that military authorities later denied knowledge of the approved salary review, while the Minister of Defence reportedly referred to an earlier increase from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 under the 2024 national minimum wage, which the veterans insist is separate from the 2025 military pay review.
The veterans also reaffirmed plans to stage a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance if the approved salary structure is not implemented, urging the Federal Government to honour its commitment to serving military personnel without further delay.
