By Hafiz Hassan
National News – Military veterans have called on the Federal Government to immediately implement the approved N250,000 minimum wage for serving personnel, alleging that authorities have delayed enforcing a salary review law already passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
The demand was made on Monday during a retreat attended by more than 70 military veterans at the Armed Forces Headquarters Command Mess 1 in Abuja.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, who was expected at the meeting, was represented by five senior military officers after attending another engagement at the Presidential Villa.
Speaking after the meeting, one of the organisers, retired Col. Innocent Azubike, said the veterans presented documentary evidence to the military representatives, who acknowledged the submissions and pledged to brief the CDS immediately.
“The five generals that represented the CDS collected the documents presented by the veterans and accepted that the issues raised were factual. They assured us they would submit their report to the CDS as soon as he returns from the State House,” Azubike said.
He added that the veterans would wait about a week for the CDS’s response before deciding on their next line of action.
Azubike expressed disappointment that despite repeated assurances from government officials, the approved salary structure had yet to be implemented.
According to him, the National Assembly passed a bill in October 2025 reviewing the salaries of serving and retired military personnel after a comparative assessment found that Nigerian soldiers were among the lowest paid in Africa.
He said the legislation fixed N250,000 as the minimum salary for the least-paid soldier and directed that funds for its implementation be included in the 2026 budget.
Azubike further stated that President Tinubu signed the bill into law in November 2025, directing that implementation should include three months’ arrears from the date of assent.
He noted that the Ministry of Defence and military service chiefs had subsequently assured both serving and retired personnel that payment would begin soon.
However, the retired officer alleged that military authorities had recently denied knowledge of the approved salary increase.
He also criticised comments attributed to the Minister of Defence, who reportedly stated that the President increased the military minimum wage from N49,000 to N100,000, describing the claim as inaccurate.
According to Azubike, the N100,000 salary reflected the implementation of the 2024 national minimum wage and was unrelated to the separate military salary review approved in 2025.
The veterans insisted they would proceed with a planned peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance if the delay continues.
“We remain determined to embark on a peaceful protest to find out what has become of the approved salary increment and the funds appropriated for it. We believe the President will be fully informed once the protest takes place,” he said.
The retired personnel urged the Federal Government to honour its commitment by implementing the approved salary structure for serving members of the Armed Forces without further delay.
