Opposition Reacts Over President Tinubu’s Approval Of Soldiers New Salary Package

President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a new salary package for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces has drawn mixed reactions from opposition parties.

While some commended the move as a long-overdue investment in national security, others questioned the president’s motives, describing the timing as politically convenient.

The parties gave their reactions in separate exclusive interviews with The PUNCH in Abuja on Tuesday.

While the Social Democratic Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party welcomed the pay increase as a necessary step towards improving troop welfare and strengthening the country’s security architecture, the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement expressed reservations, arguing that the decision should be viewed against the backdrop of the administration’s political record.

The divergent reactions followed Tuesday’s announcement by the Presidency that Tinubu had approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for approximately 250,000 military personnel.

According to the Presidency, the new pay package will take effect from September 1, 2026, with the highest percentage increases going to junior officers and rank-and-file personnel who have borne the brunt of counter-insurgency, anti-banditry and anti-kidnapping operations across the country.

The Presidency announced that the new remuneration package would increase annual personnel costs for the Armed Forces from N660bn to N924bn, representing an additional N264bn.

Under the new structure, officers above the rank of colonel, including brigadier generals, major generals, lieutenant generals and generals, will receive a 30 per cent salary increase.

Personnel from colonel to warrant officer will receive a 50 per cent increase, while soldiers from private to staff sergeant will benefit from an 80 per cent increase.

Announcing the package, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the graduated salary adjustment was deliberately designed to favour junior personnel.

Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the party would not politicise policies aimed at strengthening national security, stressing that what mattered most was the outcome of such interventions.

He said, “National security takes preeminence over politics, and every government direction, decision or policy towards enhancing national security is a welcome development. So, we are not a party that reads negative meanings to every action.

“The important thing is the expected outcome. We must be able to have measurable deliverables from every government policy, action or programme. So, for us in the party, we have been canvassing and advocating for the right investment to enhance our security architecture.

“We do not read political meanings to security interventions or actions. We are not troubled.