January 19, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Abuja, Nigeria — Aggrieved Nigerian Army personnel have issued a stark warning of a possible impending mutiny if authorities fail to urgently address long-standing grievances over poor salaries, non-payment of allowances and perceived corruption within the ranks.
In an open letter dated January 18 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, a group of lower-rank army personnel accused senior military leadership of corruption, extortion and wilful neglect of rank-and-file officers. The letter, obtained by Dalena Reporters, underscores deepening frustration within the military over compensation practices that many soldiers describe as unfair and demoralising.
At the heart of the complaint is the disparity between approved salary enhancements and what soldiers on the ground are actually receiving. Despite the Federal Government’s earlier endorsement of a 25–35 % salary increase for armed forces personnel, troops say recent promotions have brought paltry pay rises sometimes as little as ₦2,000 to ₦15,000 extra per month. Junior ranks such as Lance Corporals reportedly received barely ₦2,000 more, while Staff Sergeants saw a modest ₦15,000 increment.
“This is an organisation that only promotes its personnel after five years of service to the nation,” the letter states. “After risking our lives day and night, this is what we get an extra ₦3,000 or ₦5,000. This is unfair, unfortunate and demoralising.”
The soldiers also highlighted the scarce skills allowance of ₦100,000 reportedly approved since 2017 — as another sore point, saying it has yet to be fully implemented and accusing authorities of withholding funds meant to support troop welfare. They contrasted their own situation with that of counterparts in the Nigerian Navy and Air Force, who they claim have received substantially larger allowance increments.
According to the group, the Federal Government’s silence on these complaints has only deepened frustration. “Poor pay with multiple loans and an unending cycle of debts when will this stop?” the letter demanded of senior leadership.
The warning of mutiny comes against a backdrop of widening discontent within Nigeria’s security forces. In recent months lawmakers have also raised concerns about the adequacy of military pay and welfare, with motions tabled in the Senate calling for upward review of salaries and conditions of service for armed forces personnel in light of rising inflation and economic challenges.
Despite these pressures, there has been no official response from the presidency or the Nigerian Army public relations office at the time of publication. Previous statements from military authorities have sought to reassure the public that promotions and pay structures are handled transparently and that welfare programmes are in place — though critics say these responses fall short of addressing core grievances.
Analysts warn that sustained neglect of soldier welfare not only undermines morale but threatens operational effectiveness in Nigeria’s ongoing security campaigns. With Boko Haram, banditry, and other insurgencies still active across parts of the country, any breakdown in military cohesion could have far-reaching implications for national security.
As pressure mounts for reform, all eyes are on Abuja to see whether the government will move swiftly to avert a crisis that, according to critics, has been years in the making.