The Federal Government has approved a new pensionable salary structure for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, with Generals, Admirals and Air Chief Marshals topping the scale at an annual gross pensionable salary of N29.75m. The new structure takes effect from September 1, 2026.
The approval was contained in a September 3 circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and signed by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Major General Junaidu Bindawa (retd.). The review followed President Bola Tinubu’s approval and an earlier revision of the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure.
Under the new schedule, Generals, Admirals and Air Chief Marshals will have annual pensionable salaries ranging from N21.90m to N29.75m, depending on salary step. Lieutenant Generals, Vice Admirals and Air Marshals will range from N17.00m to N25.91m, while Major Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals will earn between N14.98m and N23.90m for pension purposes.
Brigadier Generals, Commodores and Air Commodores will have annual pensionable salaries of N13.86m to N16.39m, while Colonels, Captains and Group Captains will range from N8.31m to N9.49m. The schedule also covers junior officers and other ranks, with Privates, Ordinary Seamen and Aircraftmen placed between N2.28m and N2.49m annually for pension purposes.
The commission stressed that the approved figures are pensionable salaries and should not be interpreted as the monthly take-home pay of serving military personnel. The review has implications for retired personnel because pension benefits are linked to approved pensionable emoluments, while Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution provides for pension reviews every five years or alongside salary reviews for public servants, whichever comes earlier.
Security experts welcomed the review, saying improved remuneration could strengthen the welfare and morale of personnel serving in conflict zones. Security professional Abdullahi Jabi said the government should complement the salary and pension changes with support for housing, healthcare, transportation and education for military families, while security analyst Chidi Omeje said the sacrifices of service members justified improved retirement benefits.
The pension review comes after a separate upward review of the remuneration of Armed Forces personnel, which reportedly provided differentiated salary increases across the ranks, with junior personnel receiving the largest percentage adjustment. The broader reforms are intended to improve military welfare amid Nigeria’s prolonged security challenges and ongoing operations against kidnapping, insurgency and other forms of insecurity.
