Legal practitioner and governance advocate, Leonard Anyogo, has called for improved welfare and treatment for soldiers serving on the frontline, saying they should enjoy benefits comparable to those provided to members of the presidential guard.
Anyogo, an internationally recognised governance advocate at Chatham House London, said better treatment of frontline troops would encourage more soldiers to demonstrate bravery and commitment in combat operations, rather than seeking postings to political and ceremonial security positions.
He spoke while reacting to the Federal Government’s recent salary increases for military personnel, which include an 80 per cent increase for junior soldiers, 50 per cent for mid-ranking officers and 30 per cent for senior officers.
“It is an open secret that the Brigades of Guard have special welfare and allowances. This is not the same for regular soldiers who protect the generality of Nigerians. The soldiers in the streets, bushes, creeks and tunnels are often not given these same allowances and necessary equipment to work.”
Speaking on the rationale for more increment granted to soldiers in the lower cadre, he said, “it is a deliberate attempt to shore up confidence of the junior soldiers who make up 80 percent of the Nigerian military.”
Anyogo also dismissed concerns that the salary increases could push Nigeria’s military wage bill beyond N900 billion, arguing that the country has sufficient resources to cater for the welfare of its security personnel.
He maintained that Nigerians would prioritise security over investments and the provision of social amenities, stressing that economic development could not thrive in an environment where citizens and businesses were not adequately protected.
Meanwhile, retired military officers under the aegis of their association are set to protest at the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday over the alleged non-implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions following salary increases for serving personnel.
One of the leaders of the retirees, Col. Innocent Azubike (retd.), disclosed this in an interview on Monday.
Azubike said President Bola Tinubu approved a salary increase for serving military personnel in November 2025, which, according to him, ought to have resulted in a corresponding adjustment to the pensions of retired officers.
He said the situation had become more complicated following another salary increase announced for serving military personnel in August 2026, which is expected to take effect from September.
The retirees are, therefore, demanding that the government implement the corresponding pension adjustments to reflect the salary increases granted to serving military personnel.