Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has approved a salary increase of between 30% and 80% for members of the Armed Forces, coming at a time when the West African nation faces some of its most complex security challenges in recent years.

The Boko Haram insurgency and the Islamic State West Africa Province remain active in the north-east, while armed banditry and lucrative kidnapping-for-ransom operations continue to plague several other regions across the country.

The federal government insists the targeted pay increase, which grants the maximum 80% boost to junior ranks, is designed to improve the living conditions of military personnel, boost troop morale, and enhance the effectiveness of ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-crime operations.

However, security experts warn that higher pay alone may not be enough to fix deep-seated structural issues within the military, pointing to lingering deficits in equipment, training, and strategic planning.

–Channel Africa–