President Tinubu Reviews National Security Amid Military Pay Dispute

President Bola Tinubu chaired a high-level, closed-door National Security Council meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The session included the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other top intelligence and military leaders who briefed the president on operational theaters and strategies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism across Nigeria. The meeting focused on strengthening the national security architecture and improving coordination between the armed forces and intelligence agencies.

This review follows several recent military successes, including the neutralization of bandit commander Alhaji Tukur and Nigerian Air Force airstrikes against terrorist convoys in Katsina and Zamfara states. The administration is using these operational updates to refine its approach to neutralizing threats in volatile regions.

Parallel to the security review, the administration is facing backlash from serving and retired military personnel. Minister of Defence Christopher Musa disclosed that soldiers' minimum monthly salaries have risen to N100,000, up from N49,000. However, personnel labeled the amount inadequate relative to the rising cost of living and accused the president of failing to deliver on a specific salary increment promised in March 2026.

Musa defended the current pay as a significant improvement but admitted the overall defense budget remains insufficient. This tension highlights a gap between the government's tactical military achievements and the perceived failure to address the welfare of the troops executing those operations.