The House of Representatives Committee on Defence has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s recent reforms in the military, saying the planned salary increase for personnel and the expansion of the Nigerian Army will strengthen the country’s fight against terrorism and other security threats.
The committee also praised the President’s approval to increase the number of army divisions from eight to 12, alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture.
In a statement released on Thursday, the committee’s chairman, Babajimi Benson, described the decisions as “historic, visionary and timely interventions”, saying they reflect the administration’s commitment to improving the capacity of the armed forces.
He said raising the salaries of military personnel, especially junior officers and rank-and-file soldiers, would improve motivation, encourage professionalism, retain experienced personnel and attract more qualified recruits into the service.
Benson noted that better welfare for troops is crucial to building a stronger and more effective military capable of responding to the country’s evolving security challenges.
He further stated that increasing the number of army divisions would strengthen operational coordination, improve troop deployment, enhance border protection and boost intelligence-driven operations against terrorists, insurgents, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements.
“These bold reforms represent strategic investments in the men and women who make enormous daily sacrifices to safeguard our country’s peace, unity, and democratic values,” the statement reads.
“A well-motivated and properly equipped military remains indispensable to achieving sustainable national security and development.”
The committee chairman added that lawmakers on the panel fully support the administration’s efforts to build a stronger, more resilient and globally competitive military capable of tackling both current and emerging security threats.