President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a closed-door security meeting with military commanders, intelligence chiefs and top security advisers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid growing criticism over the welfare of Nigerian soldiers.
The meeting came after Defence Minister Christopher Musa disclosed that the minimum monthly salary for soldiers had increased from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000. The disclosure sparked criticism from veterans and serving personnel, who described the amount as inadequate given the rising cost of living.
Retired and serving soldiers accused the Federal Government of failing to implement the salary increase President Tinubu promised in March 2026. They argued that poor remuneration has weakened morale, contributed to personnel leaving service without permission and made military recruitment less attractive.
Serving personnel urged the government to honour its commitment, saying soldiers continue to risk their lives while struggling to provide for their families. They stressed that a motivated and adequately compensated military is essential to tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
During a recent interview, Musa also advocated the death penalty for kidnappers, saying harsher punishment would serve as a deterrent. He revealed that kidnappers holding pupils abducted in Oyo State threatened to kill the children if security forces moved closer, claiming they wanted the release of some detained bandit commanders.
The security meeting also followed recent military operations in Zamfara, Katsina and Borno states, where troops reportedly disrupted planned terrorist attacks, neutralised bandit leaders and repelled assaults on military bases.
Although the Presidency has yet to disclose details of Thursday’s meeting, officials said discussions focused on reviewing the country’s security situation and ongoing military operations across various conflict zones.
