Borno North senator, Ali Ndume, has urged the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede and other service chiefs to make improved welfare and remuneration for troops a top priority.

Ndume made the appeal shortly after President Bola Tinubu decorated the Service Chiefs with their new ranks on Thursday in Abuja.

The former Senate Chief Whip said boosting the financial well-being of soldiers was critical to sustaining the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other security threats confronting the nation.

“The annual budget of the Armed Forces and other security forces should be in the First Line Charge, and it shouldn’t be discretionary. They should be front-loaded,” he said.

Comparing Nigeria’s military pay structure with other African countries, the senator representing Borno North described the current remuneration as nothing to write home about, citing wide disparities.

“In Ghana, the entry-level pay for a private soldier is equivalent to about N180,000 per month; in South Africa, the basic pay for enlisted personnel starts at about N250,000 monthly.

“In Egypt, junior enlisted officers earn between N230,000–N280,000 monthly, and in Kenya, a private earns about N200,000, excluding operational allowances.

“But in Nigeria, the average private soldier earns significantly less despite higher deployment frequency and operational demands,” he lamented.

Ndume further urged the Tinubu administration to prioritise the Armed Forces’ budget by placing it on the First Line Charge, ensuring prompt and non-discretionary funding.

Make troops welfare top priority – Ndume tells new service chiefs