The Federal Government has increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000 as part of efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel, according to the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa.
Speaking during an interview with News Central ahead of the broadcast of its NC Exclusive programme, Musa said the salary adjustment reflects the government’s commitment to boosting the morale of troops serving across the country. However, he admitted that the military remains underfunded, noting that the current defence budget is still insufficient to meet the growing operational and welfare needs of the armed forces.
Responding to questions about funding, the minister acknowledged that more financial support is required to adequately equip and sustain military operations. He explained that despite improvements in personnel welfare, the armed forces continue to face significant resource challenges.
Musa also addressed recent allegations that Nigerian soldiers are poorly fed, dismissing claims made by social media influencer Justice Mark Chidiebere, popularly known as Justice Crack. According to the minister, videos circulating online showing inadequate meals were manipulated to create a false impression of soldiers’ welfare conditions.
He alleged that the influencer instructed soldiers to remove portions of their meals, including meat and other food items, before recording the videos in an attempt to portray the military as neglecting its personnel.
Justice Crack was arrested in March alongside several soldiers after publishing videos alleging poor feeding and welfare conditions within the Nigerian Army. The military accused him of spreading misinformation and encouraging soldiers to produce content capable of undermining discipline and public confidence in the armed forces.
While the soldiers involved were placed in military custody, Justice Crack was handed over to civil authorities for prosecution. The Federal High Court in Abuja later granted him bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety, and his trial is still ongoing.
The Defence Minister maintained that the government remains committed to improving the welfare, salaries and working conditions of military personnel while strengthening the country’s security capabilities through increased investment and reforms.
