As President Tinubu approves salary hike for 250,000 troops, former Senate Leader calls for direct payment system to ensure every soldier gets their full due
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of salary increases for approximately 250,000 Nigerian Armed Forces personnel — but the Borno South senator is not stopping there. Ndume is pushing for something that many Nigerians have long known needs to happen: direct salary transfers straight into the bank accounts of our soldiers, sailors, and airmen, bypassing any middlemen who might be tempted to “settle themselves” along the way.
A Step in the Right Direction — But Let’s Do It Properly
No one will argue that our military men and women deserve better. These are the same people sleeping in trenches in Borno, chasing Boko Haram through the Sambisa Forest, and keeping the peace in communities across the Niger Delta and beyond. For too long, conversations about their welfare have been swept under the carpet while the big men at the top collect their jumbo allowances without blinking.
Tinubu’s approval of the salary increase is, without question, a welcome development. But Ndume — who has consistently championed the welfare of military personnel, particularly given the security situation in his home state — is right to ask the harder question: how do we make sure this money actually reaches the men holding the guns?
Why Direct Payment Matters More Than You Think
If you’ve ever worked in Nigeria’s public sector — or even know someone who has — you already understand the wahala that comes with salary disbursement chains. Money passes through so many hands before it lands in an account that by the time it arrives, you sometimes wonder if it stopped to pay someone’s school fees along the way.
For military personnel, this problem is even more serious. Junior soldiers — the privates and lance corporals doing the actual heavy lifting on the frontlines — are often the last to feel the benefit of any salary adjustments approved at the top. Ndume’s call for a direct transfer system is essentially a demand for financial accountability and transparency in how military salaries are handled.
Think of it this way: if the government can use GIFMIS, IPPIS, and other financial management systems to track civil servant payments, there is absolutely no reason our armed forces should not benefit from the same level of direct, transparent salary disbursement.
Our Soldiers Deserve More Than Promises
Let’s call a spade a spade. Nigeria asks a great deal of its military. From the insurgency in the Northeast, to the banditry crisis in the Northwest, to the separatist tensions in the Southeast — our soldiers are stretched thin across multiple theatres of conflict, often with inadequate equipment, poor welfare, and delayed payments.
A salary increase without a proper payment mechanism is like buying suya without the pepper — something is clearly missing. The morale of our troops is directly tied to their welfare. A soldier who is worried about whether his family back home has eaten will not be fully focused on defending the nation. This is not just a welfare issue; it is a national security issue.
The Bigger Picture
Ndume’s position reflects a growing consensus among Nigerians who care about the effectiveness of our security forces: throwing money at a problem is not enough if the system for delivering that money remains broken.
President Tinubu has shown willingness to make bold economic decisions — as anyone who survived the fuel subsidy removal saga can attest. That same boldness should now be directed at reforming how military salaries are paid, ensuring every personnel — from the Chief of Army Staff down to the last private soldier in Gwoza — receives exactly what they are owed, on time, in full, and without anyone dipping their hand in the pot.
As Nigerians, we have a right to demand that the people protecting our borders and our lives are treated with the dignity and financial respect they deserve. Ndume has raised the point. Now it is up to Mr. President to act on it.
What do you think? Should the Federal Government implement a direct salary payment system for military personnel? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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