(Peter Obi. Photoby Nigeria Stories)
Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate for 2027, has rejected allegations that he urged Nigerian military personnel to decline salary increases sanctioned by President Bola Tinubu.
Obi made the denial through his verified social media account on Tuesday, calling on Nigerians and Armed Forces members to disregard the report.
‘I Never Said Military Should Reject Salary Increase’.
I wish to address a recent
report that falsely attributes a statement to me, suggesting that Nigerian soldiers should refuse any salary increments until after the elections. This assertion is entirely untrue.My profound…
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) August 11, 2026
Obi characterised the assertion as entirely false, stating that he had not made any statement suggesting soldiers should refuse pay increments pending post-election developments.
He reaffirmed his consistent regard for security force members and noted his long-standing advocacy for adequate equipment, motivation and protective measures for armed forces personnel.
The presidential candidate referenced an incident involving soldier fatalities at the hands of insurgents, which he said prompted him to critically examine the level of protection afforded to deployed troops.
He committed that if elected president, the welfare and safety of military personnel would constitute a priority, pledging that troops would not be left exposed in dangerous operational environments under his administration.
President Tinubu had authorised salary increases ranging from 30 to 80 per cent for armed forces personnel, effective September 1, 2026.
The compensation package, benefiting approximately 250,000 personnel, was projected to increase the annual military salary expenditure from N660 billion to N924 billion, according to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
