Junior military personnel have started receiving higher salaries, just as public service workers begin a three-day warning strike over economic hardship.
The Defence Headquarters confirmed on Thursday that September salaries paid to Armed Forces personnel now include the approved salary increase.
At the same time, the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has directed its members to stop work from Friday, 2 October, to Sunday, 4 October.
The council says workers and their dependants are facing worsening economic and mental hardship.
The contrast has brought two different developments involving public sector pay into the same week: higher military salaries and industrial action by other public workers.
Soldiers begin receiving new figures
Some military personnel confirmed that the new salary figures entered their accounts on Wednesday evening.
They said personnel from Private to Staff Sergeant are receiving an 80 per cent increase.
A Private who previously earned about N103,000 now receives approximately N190,000. A Lance Corporal whose earlier salary was about N110,000 now receives approximately N202,000.
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Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Samaila Uba, confirmed the salary adjustment to newsmen in Abuja.
The salary review was approved by President Bola Tinubu in August and took effect from 1 September, 2026.
Under the approved structure, personnel from Warrant Officer to Colonel receive a 50 per cent increase.
Officers above Colonel receive a 30 per cent increase. The Presidency had put the yearly salary bill for the Armed Forces at N660 billion before the adjustment. The new package raises it to N924 billion.
A source linked the adjustment to Tinubu’s promise to improve military personnel welfare.
“The development represents the fulfilment of a promise by President Bola Tinubu to improve the welfare of military personnel. The efforts of the Minister of Defence and the Service Chiefs in consistently advocating improved welfare and better conditions of service for troops are also noteworthy,” the source revealed.
Public workers prepare to down tools
The JNPSNC action is scheduled to begin at midnight on Friday. The council issued the directive in a circular dated 1 October and signed by its National Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga.
It directed its national and state leaders to mobilise workers and pass the information to members across the country.
The council said the decision came after the Federal Government failed to address requests it had sent to Tinubu in a letter dated 21 September.
JNPSNC also directed union representatives in federal, state and local government services to ensure compliance.
The council had warned on 29 September that it would declare a three-day strike if its demands were not addressed during Tinubu’s Independence Anniversary Address.
Among its demands was a reduction of petrol prices to N500 per litre.
The council cited the current petrol price range of N1,400 to N2,000 per litre, depending on location.
It also demanded a wage award and other measures to reduce the economic pressure on workers.
What readers should understand
JNPSNC brings together several unions representing workers in different areas of the public service.
Its members include the Nigerian Civil Service Union, Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
The council also includes the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees; Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers; National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers; and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has given tacit backing to the planned action.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, in an Independence Day message on Wednesday, cited petrol prices, inflation, stagnant wages, unemployment and insecurity as problems affecting workers and other Nigerians.
The NLC said inflation had reduced the real value of workers’ wages.
It also said higher transport costs had raised the prices of food, school fees, rent and other essential goods and services.
The three-day action is a warning strike, meaning the council has not declared an indefinite stoppage of work.
The military salary adjustment, on the other hand, has already begun appearing in the September payments of affected personnel.
The two developments now put public sector pay and the cost of living in focus from different sides: some military personnel are receiving the approved salary increase, while JNPSNC members are stopping work over demands tied to wages and living costs.
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