Veterans of the Nigerian Armed Forces have demanded the immediate implementation of the approved N250,000 minimum wage for military personnel, warning that they may embark on a peaceful protest if the delay continues.
The demand was raised on Monday during a retreat attended by more than 70 retired military officers at the Armed Forces Headquarters Command Mess 1 in Abuja.
The veterans expressed frustration over what they described as prolonged delays in the execution of a salary review they said had already received legislative approval and presidential assent...To Read The Full Content; Tap Here Now .
This meeting was expected to be attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede. However, he was represented by five senior military officers, who informed participants that the CDS was attending an official engagement at the Presidential Villa.
Speaking after the gathering, one of the organisers, retired Colonel Innocent Azubike, said the veterans submitted documents detailing their position on the salary review and the military representatives acknowledged the issues raised.
According to him, the officers accepted the documents and assured the veterans that the materials would be forwarded to the Chief of Defence Staff upon his return from the State House.
“The five Generals that represented the CDS collected the papers presented by veterans and accepted that what the veterans said were facts. They said they would submit their report to the CDS immediately he comes back from the State House.
“We felt pleased that they acknowledged the facts we raised and felt we could give about a week to know the response from the CDS after he receives the report,” he said.
Azubike noted that many retired and serving military personnel had become increasingly concerned over the failure to implement the salary structure despite repeated assurances from government officials.
He explained that lawmakers approved an upward review of military salaries in late 2025 after an assessment reportedly showed that Nigerian soldiers earned significantly less than their counterparts in several African countries.
According to him, the review fixed N250,000 as the minimum salary for the least-paid soldier, while provisions for the implementation were included in the 2026 budget.
“The Senate passed a Bill for upward review of the pay of serving and retired military personnel. The House of Representatives gave its concurrence.
“Before passing the Bill, there was a comparative study of military pay scales in some other African nations, and Nigeria’s was found to be ridiculously the lowest.
“The Senate fixed N250,000 as the minimum pay for the least-paid soldier and directed that the required funds be included in the 2026 budget. That was done,” he stated.
The retired officer further claimed that President Bola Tinubu assented to the bill in November 2025 and directed that the implementation should include three months’ arrears.
“The President assented to the Bill in November 2025 and stated that it would carry three months’ arrears from the date of signing. This was publicly announced by the Presidency and widely reported.
“Thereafter, the Ministry of Defence and the Service Chiefs repeatedly thanked the President and assured both serving and retired personnel that payment would commence soon,” he said.
The veterans, however, expressed surprise over what they described as a recent shift in position by military authorities regarding the salary review.
Azubike alleged that officials who were previously aware of the process were now requesting evidence of the approved increment.
“Then suddenly, in July 2026, the CDS and the Ministry of Defence made a U-turn and started posturing as if there was no such pay increment and asking us to produce documents to that effect.
“To worsen matters, the Minister of Defence, who was the CDS when the bill was passed and who championed it, recently claimed that the President increased the military minimum wage from N49,000 to N100,000.
“That statement sent shockwaves through both serving and retired personnel because it is not correct,” he said.
He maintained that the N100,000 figure being referenced was linked to the implementation of the national minimum wage approved in 2024 and was separate from the military salary review approved the following year.
The veterans warned that unless the issue is addressed promptly, they would proceed with plans for a peaceful demonstration to demand accountability over the funds allocated for the salary increase.
“We have clearly stated that we are determined to embark on a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance to find out what has become of the approved increment and the funds appropriated for it.
“We are convinced that once we protest, the President will hear directly about the matter and the money will be released by fiat.
“The protest plan remains on course, and donations are still being received so that we can mobilise at short notice if there is any further delay by the authorities,” he added.