Veterans threaten protest over delay in N250,000 military pay

Military veterans have called on the federal government to immediately implement the approved N250,000 minimum wage for serving personnel.

They accused the authorities of delaying the implementation of what they described as a salary review approved by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

The demand was made on Monday during a retreat attended by more than 70 retired military officers at the Armed Forces Headquarters Command Mess 1 in Abuja.

Olufemi Oluyede, chief of defence staff, was represented by five senior military officers after reportedly attending an engagement at the Presidential Villa.

Speaking after the meeting, Innocent Azubike, a retired colonel who is one of the organisers, said the veterans presented documentary evidence to the military representatives to support their claims that the salary review had already received legislative and presidential approval.

According to him, the officers accepted the documents and promised to brief the Chief of Defence Staff immediately 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 was fact. They said they would submit their report to the CDS immediately when 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,” Azubike said.

Azubike expressed disappointment that despite repeated assurances from government officials over several months, the revised salary structure had yet to be implemented.

He explained that the National Assembly, in October 2025, passed legislation reviewing the salaries of serving and retired military personnel after a comparative assessment allegedly showed that Nigerian military personnel earned the lowest salaries among several African countries.

According to him, the Senate approved a minimum salary of N250,000 for the least-paid soldier, while directing that the required funds be captured in the 2026 national budget. The House of Representatives subsequently concurred with the bill.

“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 said.

Azubike further claimed that Tinubu assented to the bill in November 2025 and directed that implementation should take effect with three months’ arrears.

He said the presidency publicly announced the approval at the time, after which the Ministry of Defence and the service chiefs commended the President and assured military personnel that payment would begin soon.

However, the retired officers alleged that military authorities had recently denied knowledge of the approved salary increase.

According to Azubike, the Defence Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence had in recent weeks requested evidence of the salary review, a development he described as a complete reversal of their earlier position.

He also criticised recent remarks credited to the minister of defence, who reportedly stated that the president had increased the military minimum wage from N49,000 to N100,000.

Azubike argued that the statement was inaccurate, noting that the N100,000 salary resulted from the implementation of the 2024 national minimum wage and was unrelated to the military salary review approved in November 2025.

The veterans reiterated their resolve to proceed with a planned peaceful protest if the government failed to act.

According to Azubike, the demonstration would be held at the Federal Ministry of Finance to demand an explanation for the delay in implementing the approved salary structure and disbursing the appropriated funds.

“We are convinced that once we protest, the President will hear directly about the matter and the money will be released by fiat,” he said.

He added that preparations for the protest were ongoing, with donations still being received to mobilise participants at short notice should authorities fail to address their concerns.

The veterans urged the Federal Government to honour its commitment by implementing the approved salary structure for serving military personnel without further delay, saying the welfare of members of the armed forces should remain a national priority.