Ex-military chief advocates for ₦250,000 monthly salary for Nigerian troops

Major General John Enenche, a former Director of Defence Information, has advocated for a review of the welfare of Nigerian soldiers, proposing a minimum monthly salary of ₦250,000 for rank-and-file personnel to account for current economic conditions and the demands of military service.

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Enenche, who is also a military strategist, made this recommendation during an interview on ARISE TV on Sunday, stating that a Nigerian soldier should not earn less than ₦250,000 per month.

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When asked to justify his proposal, the retired general explained that the amount is a modest benchmark considering the rising cost of living, citing the cost of feeding as a significant expense.

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Enenche argued that military personnel make sacrifices that distinguish them from other public servants, and that their compensation should reflect this, saying that a soldier is not a mercenary and should not be expected to purchase their own equipment.

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He noted that soldiers are always on duty, even after retirement, and are required to respond to calls at any time, illustrating this point with his own experience, saying that even in retirement, he would still respond to requests from the Chief of Defence Staff.

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Enenche also pointed out that soldiers are unable to pursue additional sources of income due to the nature of their service, asking rhetorically how a soldier would find the time to farm or engage in other economic activities.

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The proposed salary of ₦250,000, according to Enenche, remains modest when considering transportation costs and other living expenses, such as the average transport fare in Abuja, which can range from ₦1,000 to ₦2,000.

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Enenche suggested that any salary adjustment should be applied across the military hierarchy, in line with the existing remuneration structure, and that this should be considered in the context of available resources and competing demands from other sectors of the economy.

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When asked to confirm his recommendation, Enenche replied that a minimum salary of ₦250,000 is indeed his suggestion, emphasizing the need for a salary review to reflect the realities of military service.

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Enenche's recommendation comes weeks after the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, announced that the Federal Government had increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000 as part of efforts to improve military welfare.

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The minister had noted, however, that the military remains underfunded despite the salary review, highlighting the ongoing challenges in providing adequate compensation and resources for military personnel.