The federal government’s decision to double the minimum monthly salary of soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000 has raised a fundamental question about the value placed on those defending the country. The April report of the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) shows that the cost of a healthy diet for one adult stands at N1,589 daily. At this rate, a soldier, who earns N100,000 monthly, can afford a nutritious diet for only about 63 meals, equivalent to roughly 21 days of three square meals daily. The NBS Statistics Office and a researcher involved in the report told Daily Trust that the CoHD is for a healthy diet at a point in time. It could be breakfast, lunch or dinner. 1 agency, 2 heads: Tinubu’s directive doesn’t stand, says Wike’s ally Niger APC primary crisis pits Bago against ex-Gov Bello “It does not apply to all the meals consumed in a day. A diet here refers to a meal at that particular moment, whether in the morning, afternoon or evening,” they said. Civil society organisations, who spoke to Daily Trust, queried whether what remains of the new pay, after feeding, is enough to support a soldier and his family in an economy where the cost of living continues to climb. The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, had, during a recent interview with News Central, disclosed that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration had increased the minimum monthly salary of soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000. “When they started, a soldier was collecting N49,000 monthly. We tried so hard, now he’s collecting N100,000,” the minister said. He described the increase as part of broader welfare reforms aimed at improving troops’ morale. He, however, admitted that Nigeria’s defence funding remains inadequate. The 2026 Appropriation Act has N3.16 trillion for the Ministry of Defence, equivalent to about $2.28 billion at an exchange rate of approximately N1,380 to dollar. For decades, concerns over poor salaries, inadequate accommodation, delayed benefits and rising living costs have dominated discussions around military welfare. Musa dismissed claims circulating on social media that soldiers were poorly fed, insisting that a viral video involving a soldier identified as Justice Crack had been manipulated. “The soldier’s food was okay. There was meat; there was all this. But he told them to pull out those things and make it look as if those things were not there,” he said. The minister maintained that the government would continue investing in personnel welfare and operational capacity to strengthen the Armed Forces. N100,000 salary for 21 days of healthy feeding The latest NBS Cost of a Healthy Diet Report highlights the pressure rising food prices are placing on low-income earners, including military personnel. According to the bureau, the average cost of maintaining a healthy diet increased from N1,541 per adult per day in March 2026 to N1,589 in April, representing a 3.12 per cent month-on-month rise. Compared with N1,518 recorded in April 2025, the cost increased by 4.74 per cent year-on-year. At N1,589 daily, maintaining a healthy diet three times – breakfast, lunch and dinner – costs about N4,767 daily and around N143,010 monthly for an adult. Based on three square meals daily, a soldier earning N100,000 can only afford about 63 meals, enough for approximately 21 days, before the salary is exhausted. The challenge becomes even greater for soldiers with spouses or children, as the NBS estimate covers only one adult and excludes other household expenses. The report attributed the latest increase to rising prices across nearly every food group except starchy staples. It noted that animal-source foods remained the most expensive component of a healthy diet, accounting for 40 per cent of total cost despite contributing only 13 per cent of calorie requirements. State-level data further illustrate the disparity. Ekiti recorded the highest daily healthy diet cost at N2,036, followed by Imo (N2,018) and Bayelsa (N1,909), while Adamawa had the lowest at N1,143, ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (N1,278) and Akwa Ibom (N1,314). Regionally, the South-East recorded the highest average daily cost at N1,830, followed by the South-West (N1,753), while the North-East recorded the lowest at N1,415. According to the NBS, the CoHD measures the minimum amount required to meet recommended daily nutritional needs using locally available foods and serves as a key benchmark for assessing food affordability and household welfare. Soldiers’ salary structure, allowances The Manual for Financial Administration of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA), signed in 2017, states that “personnel remuneration is governed by the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS) and other financial guidelines, including directives issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the Public Service Rules and the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service.” Ac
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