₦airaland Forum

Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has decried the poor welfare of Nigerian soldiers, describing their N5,000 daily feeding allowance and monthly salary of about N100,000 as inadequate and demoralising for men risking their lives on the frontlines.

Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District and once chaired the Senate Committee on Army, made the remarks in a statement on Thursday while urging President Bola Tinubu to resist mounting pressure to sack the Service Chiefs.

His comments came days after the Northern Ethnic Nationalities Forum, led by Dominic Alancha, demanded the immediate dismissal of the military high command, accusing them of professional incompetence and failure to end insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges despite heavy budgetary allocations.

The Forum had argued that Nigeria needed “fresh and innovative military leaders with a clear mandate and timeline for results.”

Ndume, however, dismissed the call as ill-motivated, insisting that the nation’s security challenges were rooted in poor funding, inadequate logistics, and lack of motivation rather than leadership failure at the top.


“Those pushing for the sacking of the present crop of Service Chiefs have ulterior motives and do not mean well for the present administration and Nigerians. It is outlandish and uncharitable for any group to accuse the present Service Chiefs of professional incompetence. All of them have the requisite training and experience in theatre operations,” he said.

The senator, whose constituency has been at the epicentre of Boko Haram’s decade-long insurgency, stressed the need for a TEAM approach — Training, Equipment, Ammunition, and Motivation — as the pathway to defeating terrorism and other forms of violent crime.


“All they need is adequate ammunition and motivation. The salary of a private in the Nigerian Army is about N100,000 per month. Their daily allowance of N5,000 is unconscionable and nothing to write home about. People should desist from pronouncements that could dampen the morale of our soldiers and officers on the field of operation,” he added.

Ndume further praised President Tinubu for what he described as an “ethno-religious balancing” in the appointment of the current Service Chiefs, noting that such inclusivity was lacking in previous administrations.

He maintained that, rather than frequent changes of leadership, Nigeria should prioritise proper funding of military operations, provision of modern equipment, and improved welfare packages to boost the morale of troops confronting insurgency, banditry, and terrorism nationwide.

Source: https://punchng.com/soldiers-n5000-feeding-allowance-n100000-salary-poor-ndume

Why didn't Buhari increased it when he was there?
Is it today he realized it?
Anyways I wonder why people are still in the army where they don't care

Very very very poor, there's nothing Good that can come out of APC Minimum wage 70k poor

Our mentality is our major problem.
It shall be well with us.

Chai ..100k salary... These guys dey suffer. What will 100k buy... E no buy better Tokunbo phone

So they earn 250k in total? Or only when they are on special duty they get 5k daily?

Salary 100k plus 5k daily feeding allowance equal 150k/month in total 250k

Free accommodation and I don’t know if they pay for electricity bill in barrack

Ndume is a senator, he has the power to gather his colleagues to sponsor a bill...

Some things shouldn't be made in the media


It's like a father who's in the university board member committee complaining publicly about school fees hike and you wonder what he's been doing during the board meeting.

So what are u guys doing about it. Only to just talk to look saint

One cam imagine the morale level of the soldiers..people who carry weapons.

Hampers001:
Why didn't Buhari increased it when he was there?
Is it today he realized it?
Anyways I wonder why people are still in the army where they don't care

You see tribe, e go soon de5troy you. What’s wrong with what Ndume said? Even if Buhari didn’t do it why can’t someone voice it out so that someone can do it? This is how you people want Nigeria to move forward with this mentality

Attention seeker.

We already know soldiers salary and feeding allowance. is. poor.

What about Senators salaries and allowances, Mr. senator.

All of a sudden, a pig in a mire wants to wear Christmas cloth.

Are these figures true,I doubt that very much.....it's not only the military,even the police is to abysmal.....you bay a security guard peanuts and expect him to secure property worth millions.,how can he?

5,000 Naira daily for feeding for a Primary School certificate carrying Soldier is small? How much do Professors use to eat daily? Any of them that cannot take that should resign.

Truly, that's very poor.

The that of Military and Police salaries and allowances should be work on.

What sort of corn3 is this self?
Although becoming a soldier is voluntary in Nigeria lately. But in spite of that the government still needs to do better for her compatriots.

Nackzy:
Very very very poor, there's nothing Good that can come out of APC Minimum wage 70k poor

100,000 monthly PLUS 5,000 daily (150,000 for 30 days), this equals 250,000 Naira per month. How much does a Professor earn monthly?

5000daily ? Multiple by 30days . Those on special duties receive more than that

NaijaGoBetter2:
So they earn 250k in total? Or only when they are on special duty they get 5k daily?

Salary 100k plus 5k daily feeding allowance equal 150k/month in total 250k

Free accommodation and I don’t know if they pay for electricity bill in barrack

Prepaid meter for most barracks, accommodation is not free

This simply attention seeking. What can't he sponsor a bill for increase in their salaries. 100k plus 5k daily feeding allowance is not small. What Ndume is doing is tantamount to incitement. He should be arrested for that.

If you let your child join the Nigerian army, just know that you have failed as a parent.

APC boys will tell the soldiers to resign and get another job if they're not satisfied with their 5k allowance. As if bulaba resigned when he wasn't satisfied with the presidential jet.

In case you're asking how I know, that's what helinues said when lecturers protested that inflation has taken up all their salaries.

BlessedAI:
The government needs to do better for them let their welfare make sense so that they can contribute positively to the Country

Not only them
Every sections needs to do better

9ja as a whole are in pain

Barrywilly:
This simply attention seeking. What can't he sponsor a bill for increase in their salaries. 100k plus 5k daily feeding allowance is not small. What Ndume is doing is tantamount to incitement. He should be arrested for that.

100k ＋ 5k daily total 250k less than 1,200 Rmb chaiiii
Do you know that one of the lowest job in China right now is cleaning and sweeping which they normally do three days in a week and collect 1,500 Rmb monthly

beardedboy:
APC boys will tell the soldiers to resign and get another job if they're not satisfied with their 5k allowance. As if bulaba resigned when he wasn't satisfied with the presidential jet.

In case you're asking how I know, that's what helinues said when lecturers protested that inflation has taken up all their salaries.

When would you lots stop the years of trolling on this forum?

100k salary is gross. Tax, housing, electricity hasn't been deducted. 5k feeding is for those on special duty not for everyone which I doubt they get. Let remember the soldier who complained his 75k salary wasn't enough to transport himself back home and soldiers that showcase some 5 yams, half beans as feeding for the month

The 5K should be for those on special duty and not someone on his normal duty already paid his salary.

simpleseyi:
5,000 Naira daily for feeding for a Primary School certificate carrying Soldier is small? How much do Professors use to eat daily? Any of them that cannot take that should resign.

Is this a joke or what??

So you saying that's good enough for men on the Frontline?

Is 70k minimum wage not poor in this TinubuMugu economic?

And for SENSELESS fact that someone in places like
Taraba
Plateau
Ekiti etc is receiving the same salary with someone in
Lagos
Abuja
Port Harcourt
IT'S EVIL AND DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

Imagine salary of civil servant in 2015 to be 200k, WHEN a USD was less than 200 naira.
Now that same civil servant is receiving 300k!!
Just 50% added.
But now, Also everything in this country has at least TRIPLED in price and USD in now getting close to 2000!

That is why soldiers transfer their aggression on "bloody civilians"

Such a precarious package for one who gives their all.