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By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Bola Tinubu\u2019s approval of a salary increase of between 30 and 80 per cent for members of the Armed Forces has been hailed by many as a welcome intervention in military welfare. Under the new arrangement, about 250,000 military personnel will benefit, while the annual military wage bill will rise from approximately \u20a6660 billion to \u20a6924 billion. The decision underscores the administration\u2019s commitment to improving troop morale amid persistent security challenges across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, beyond the commendation lies a deeply troubling question: why were Nigeria\u2019s paramilitary agencies excluded from a welfare package designed for personnel who daily risk their lives in service to the nation? This omission has sparked concerns about fairness, equity, and the long-term implications for morale across the broader security community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No reasonable person would argue against improving the welfare of soldiers. Nigeria\u2019s military continues to confront insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, kidnapping in the North-Central region, and separatist violence in parts of the South-East. The Armed Forces deserve adequate compensation for the enormous burden they bear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet it is equally true that the nation\u2019s security architecture extends far beyond the military. Agencies such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Federal Fire Service (FFS) have become indispensable pillars of national security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NSCDC, for example, is at the forefront of the fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal mining, and attacks on critical national assets. Its operatives frequently confront heavily armed criminal groups operating in remote and dangerous locations. In recent years, several personnel have been injured or killed during enforcement operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Customs officers face similar dangers. Anti-smuggling operations often place them in direct confrontation with armed syndicates involved in trafficking weapons, narcotics, petroleum products, and other prohibited goods. These are not desk assignments; they are high-risk operations with potentially fatal consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Immigration officers deployed along Nigeria\u2019s vast and porous borders confront transnational criminal networks involved in arms trafficking, human trafficking, irregular migration, and cross-border terrorism. Many operate in isolated locations under difficult conditions with limited logistical support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Correctional officers work daily with convicted terrorists, kidnappers, armed robbers, and violent offenders. The repeated attacks on correctional facilities across the country have demonstrated that personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service are increasingly exposed to significant security threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NDLEA operatives have intensified the fight against drug cartels whose operations fuel crime and insecurity. Drug trafficking networks are sophisticated, wealthy, and often violent. Officers engaged in narcotics enforcement routinely place themselves in harm\u2019s way while protecting society from a dangerous criminal enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even agencies that do not carry out conventional combat operations face substantial occupational hazards. Firefighters enter burning buildings, chemical disaster zones, and collapsing structures. FRSC personnel operate on highways notorious for fatal accidents, criminal attacks, and emergency rescue situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Against this reality, President Tinubu\u2019s decision to limit the salary increase exclusively to the military appears difficult to justify. The policy creates the impression that some categories of security personnel are more valuable than others, despite the fact that many face comparable risks in the discharge of their duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The greatest danger lies not merely in the financial disparity but in the message it sends. Welfare policies are powerful indicators of institutional value. When one segment of the security sector receives substantial rewards while others are ignored, perceptions of inequality and exclusion inevitably emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such perceptions can breed resentment and disaffection. Security personnel are human beings. They compare conditions of service, assess how government values their contributions, and draw conclusions from policy decisions. A sense of neglect can weaken commitment, motivation, and trust in leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nigeria\u2019s security agencies do not operate in isolation. Effective counterterrorism, anti-smuggling campaigns, border security, intelligence gathering, anti-drug operations, and protection of critical infrastructure all depend on strong inter-agency cooperation. A welfare policy perceived as discriminatory risks creating unnecessary friction within institutions that must work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The timing of the decision is particularly concerning. Nigeria is facing one of the most complex security environments in its history. The government itself has acknowledged the need for expanded recruitment, increased operational capacity, and enhanced welfare across the security sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Tinubu deserves credit for recognising the welfare needs of military personnel. However, leadership requires consistency and fairness. A policy that significantly improves the conditions of one category of security personnel while excluding others who face similar dangers raises legitimate questions about equity in government decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Federal Government should urgently review this policy and consider a corresponding salary enhancement for paramilitary agencies. Such a move would strengthen morale, reinforce inter-agency harmony, and demonstrate that every officer who risks life and limb in service to Nigeria is equally valued. In a nation where insecurity demands the collective efforts of multiple agencies, the principle should be straightforward and non-negotiable: equal risk should attract equal reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, writes from Abuja<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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