Defence Minister Says Nigerian Soldiers Now Earn ₦100,000 Minimum Salary, Calls for Death Penalty for Kidnappers
Defence Minister Says Nigerian Soldiers Now Earn ₦100,000 Minimum Salary, Calls for Death Penalty for Kidnappers
Musa made the remarks during an interview on News Central, where he also spoke on the rising wave of kidnappings in the country, the recent school abduction in Oyo State, and allegations about poor feeding within the military. His comments have since sparked fresh debate over the state of troop welfare, the growing insecurity crisis, and the kind of punishment Nigeria should impose on kidnappers and other violent criminals.
One of the biggest revelations from the interview was Musa’s confirmation that Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum of ₦100,000 per month, following a government review of military welfare. According to him, the previous minimum pay stood at ₦49,000, meaning the new figure represents a major increase in basic monthly earnings for lower-ranking personnel.
The salary adjustment is likely to be seen as part of ongoing attempts by the Federal Government to improve morale within the armed forces, especially at a time when troops are battling insurgency, banditry, kidnappings and other security threats across multiple regions of the country. However, Musa was quick to add that the new salary level still falls short of what is required.
In his words, the military remains underfunded, and even with the increase, “it’s not enough.” That statement has drawn attention because it highlights a long-running concern within security circles: that troops are often expected to confront serious threats under extremely difficult financial and operational conditions.
Although the pay increase is significant on paper, Musa’s comments suggest the issue of welfare in the armed forces goes beyond salary alone. For many years, concerns have been raised about: troop allowances, equipment and logistics, accommodation and welfare packages, feeding and medical support, insurance and compensation for injured or fallen personnel.
By openly stating that the military is still underfunded, the minister appears to be acknowledging that salary increases alone may not be enough to solve the broader welfare and operational challenges facing soldiers. This is especially important in a country where security personnel are deployed in high-risk areas for long periods, often under physically demanding and emotionally exhausting conditions.
Beyond the salary discussion, Christopher Musa also took a hard position on kidnapping, one of Nigeria’s most disturbing and fast-growing security problems. The minister reportedly called for the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, arguing that the country needs tougher punishment to deter the crime.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of the most feared criminal threats in Nigeria, affecting schoolchildren, travelers, farmers, traditional rulers, business owners and ordinary families. In many parts of the country, entire communities now live under constant fear of abduction. Musa’s call for capital punishment reflects the growing frustration within government and security circles over the scale of the problem and the level of trauma it has inflicted on citizens.
Supporters of harsher punishment argue that the current legal consequences are not strong enough to deter criminal networks who now see kidnapping as a lucrative business. Critics, however, may question whether tougher laws alone are enough without stronger policing, intelligence gathering, faster prosecution, and deeper social interventions.
Still, the minister’s remarks make one thing clear: the Federal Government’s top defence leadership sees kidnapping as a national emergency requiring stronger consequences.
Musa also commented on the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, offering a disturbing claim about the motive behind the operation. According to him, the kidnappers were allegedly trying to pressure the military into releasing some of their detained commanders. He said the abductors had threatened to harm the children if troops moved too close during rescue efforts. If accurate, the allegation suggests the abduction may not have been purely about ransom, but also part of a pressure tactic against security authorities. That claim adds another layer of concern to an already traumatic incident. It implies that armed groups may now be using children and civilians not only for financial extortion but also as leverage in negotiations involving arrested commanders or disrupted criminal networks.
The Oyo school abduction had already triggered widespread fear and anger, especially because it involved children in an educational environment. Musa’s remarks now raise even more serious questions about the level of planning and motive behind such attacks.
Another controversial part of the interview was Musa’s response to allegations that troops are poorly fed. In recent months, there have been public complaints and online discussions about the welfare of soldiers, including the quality and quantity of meals provided to personnel in some locations.
Responding to those concerns, the minister reportedly dismissed the allegation that the military was failing to feed its troops properly. Instead, he claimed that an officer had deliberately removed food items from a meal in order to create a false impression that soldiers were being starved or poorly catered for.
That accusation is likely to trigger mixed reactions. On one hand, it suggests the minister believes at least some of the viral complaints about poor feeding may have been manipulated or staged. On the other hand, the fact that the issue has become public at all shows that questions around troop welfare remain very much alive.
For many Nigerians, the real concern is not just whether one incident was staged, but whether the military as a whole has a consistent and transparent welfare system that genuinely meets the needs of personnel deployed in dangerous conditions.
Christopher Musa’s interview matters because it touches on three issues that are central to Nigeria’s security conversation right now:
1. Troop welfare: The salary increase may be welcomed, but the minister’s own admission that it is still not enough shows that military welfare remains a serious issue.
2. Kidnapping as a national crisis: His call for the death penalty reflects the intensity of concern over kidnapping and how deeply the crime has shaken public confidence.
3. The pressure on the armed forces: From insurgency to school abductions to public criticism over feeding and welfare, the interview paints a picture of a military under enormous pressure while still trying to defend the country on multiple fronts.
The minister’s comments also raise a bigger national question: what does it really take to build a stronger and more effective military in today’s Nigeria? If the country wants better security outcomes, it will likely need more than just battlefield bravery. It will require: better funding, stronger troop welfare, modern equipment, reliable intelligence systems, quicker prosecution of violent criminals, and a more coordinated national security strategy.
Salary increases are important, but they are only one part of the puzzle.
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Defence Minister Christopher Musa has confirmed that the minimum salary for Nigerian soldiers has risen from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000, but insists the military is still underfunded and that the new pay level is not enough.
He also called for the death penalty for kidnappers, linked the Oyo school abduction to an alleged attempt to force the release of detained commanders, and dismissed claims that Nigerian soldiers are being poorly fed.
Taken together, his remarks offer a rare look into the pressures facing the military, the scale of Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis, and the unresolved debate over how well the country is truly supporting the men and women expected to defend it.
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