Barring any last-minute amendment of its Order Paper, the Senate will on Wednesday debate a motion which seeks to review and substantially increase the minimum wage and overall salary structure of the Nigerian Armed Forces in line with current economic realities.

The motion titled, ?Urgent Need to Increase the Minimum Wage and Improve Conditions of Service for Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies,? is to be presented by former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume.

In the motion sighted by Tribune Online, Senator Ndume, who incidentally was Chairman Senate Committee on Army in the Ninth Senate, expressed concern that ?the current wage level does not reflect the magnitude of sacrifices made by Nigerian troops who daily risk their lives in internal and external operations, often under intense conditions of combat stress and limited welfare infrastructure.?

If it enjoys the unanimity of its members, the Senate will mandate the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Assembly?s Appropriations Committee to make budgetary provisions for an enhanced Defence Personnel Cost in the 2026 Appropriation Bill; and also urge the Federal Government to implement periodic reviews of Armed Forces wages, every three years to maintain parity with inflation and international benchmarks.

The lawmaker, in his motion, observed ?that the current remuneration and minimum entry-level wage for many personnel across these services have been outpaced by rising living costs, with knock-on effects on morale, recruitment, retention, and operational effectiveness?particularly for personnel deployed in high-risk theatres and remote locations.?

Senator Ndume noted that the current minimum monthly wage for junior personnel in the Armed Forces ranges between N50,000 and N60,000, depending on rank, is grossly inadequate in light of the current economic realities, inflationary pressures, and rising cost of living in Nigeria.

The lawmaker maintained that poor remuneration affects morale, recruitment, and retention rates, and exposes personnel to economic hardship, thereby indirectly undermining operational efficiency and national security.

While he acknowledged that a review of the national minimum wage is presently being considered for the general workforce, he maintained that a special salary structure for the Armed Forces is both constitutionally permissible and morally justified, given their unique role in the defence of the state.

?In most countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and India, the pay of armed forces personnel is benchmarked above the national minimum wage, reflecting the special risk, discipline, and service conditions of the military profession.

?Aligning the remuneration of Nigeria?s Armed Forces with comparable regional and global standards would boost morale, strengthen professionalism, and reaffirm national appreciation for their sacrifices.? (Nigerian Tribune)

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