Discontent is growing within the Nigerian Army as several personnel have raised alarm over stagnant promotions and deteriorating welfare conditions, urging the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, to urgently address their grievances.
Speaking anonymously to SaharaReporters, multiple soldiers lamented the lack of promotion opportunities, some remaining on the same rank for over five years despite meeting the criteria for advancement.
“It’s frustrating. You stay on a rank for five years, yet when promotion vacancies are released, only a few names are selected,” a sergeant said. “Imagine a unit where 20 soldiers are due for promotion, but only four get it — the rest have to wait another year or more. It’s demoralizing.”
The soldiers accused top-ranking officers of neglecting the welfare of junior personnel while allegedly enriching themselves. “They [senior officers] have their families living abroad. We, the lower-ranking soldiers, can barely feed ours here in Nigeria,” the sergeant added.
According to the personnel, monthly salaries remain among the lowest across Nigeria’s security forces, with no increment in allowances for years. They noted that this has made it increasingly difficult to meet basic living expenses, including food, school fees, and healthcare.
Wider Unrest Among Security Forces
The soldiers’ outcry coincides with recent public protests in Lagos and other parts of the country, where demonstrators demanded better pay and improved welfare for police and military personnel.
Protesters marched with placards decrying the harsh living conditions of security operatives, chanting solidarity songs and calling for systemic reforms. Similar protests were held earlier by retired police officers, who stormed Force Headquarters in Abuja to complain about withheld pensions and unpaid entitlements.
One protester said retired officers were only paid 25% of deductions made from their salaries after serving for 35 years. “It’s injustice. We served the nation and were left to suffer in retirement,” the retired officer said.
A Call for Reform
The protesting soldiers urged Lt. Gen. Oluyede to take decisive action to review the promotion structure, increase allowances, and implement a fair and transparent welfare policy that reflects the sacrifices of military personnel.
“The Nigerian Army must return to the core values of discipline, equity, and welfare,” one of them said. “The current system is broken — and if the welfare of the rank-and-file is ignored, morale and national security will both continue to suffer.”
As of press time, the Nigerian Army has not issued an official response to the allegations or the recent protests.
