Nigerian Army Ranks and Salary Structure

The purpose of this article is to give you vital information regarding the Nigerian Army ranks and salary structure. Whether you are considering joining the Nigerian Army or want to understand the role of the army in general, having an idea of the Nigerian Army salary structure and ranks is very vital. Continue reading to gain further insights.

The Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC) and is the largest component of the Nigerian Army Forces. It was founded in 1960 and is responsible for land warfare operations. It remains the largest army in Africa in terms of size.

The rank and salary structure of the Nigerian Army is a topic of great interest and importance. It is essential to understand the various components that make up the salary package for army personnel in Nigeria. The Nigerian Army salary structure is designed to reward and motivate soldiers for their dedication and service to the nation. It takes into account factors such as rank, years of service, and qualifications.

The Nigerian Army salary structure is divided into different levels, each corresponding to a specific rank within the army. The salary scale starts from the lowest rank, which is the recruit and progresses upwards to the highest rank, which is the General. As soldiers climb the ranks, their salaries increase accordingly.

Additionally, the number of years in service also plays a role in determining the salary. Soldiers who have served for a longer period of time are eligible for higher pay.

Below is the full list of the Nigerian Army ranks and how much the men and women are paid monthly.

Nigerian Army Ranks

The Nigerian Army ranks are divided into two categories:

• The commissioned officers
• The non-commissioned officers

The Nigerian Army ranks of commissioned officers starting from the highest to the lowest are as follows:

• 1. Field Marshal – Field Marshal is the highest rank in the Nigerian Army. It has a 5-Star rank which no one has ever attained in the history of Nigeria.
• 2. General – It has a Four-Star General. This is the highest rank ever achieved by a Nigerian. It is indicated as nine by NATO.
• 3. Lieutenant General – The Lieutenant General has a Three-Star General and is a high commission officer. It is ranked eighth by NATO.
• 4. Major General – The Major General is given a Two-Star General and is a medium commission officer. It is indicated as seven by NATO.
• 5. Brigadier General – Brigadier General is given a One-Star General. It is indicated as six by NATO.
• 6. Colonel – Indicated as five by NATO.
• 7. Lieutenant Colonel – The Lieutenant Colonel is ranked fourth by NATO and is deputy to Colonel.
• 8. Major – It is stated as three by NATO and is the lower category of the field officer.
• 9. Captain – The Captain is ranked as two by NATO and is the highest rank in the tactical troops.
• 10. First Lieutenant – The immediate superior rank and the deputy of the Captain.
• 11. Second Lieutenant –  The First Lieutenant and the Second Lieutenant are both indicated as one by NATO.

The Nigerian Army ranks of non-commissioned officers starting from the highest to the lowest are as follows:

• 12. Master Warrant Officer
• 13. Warrant Officer
• 14. Staff Sergeant
• 15. Sergeant
• 16. Corporal
• 17. Lance Corporal
• 18. Private Soldier
• 19. Recruit

Nigerian Army Salary Structure 2024

The Nigerian Army salary structure depends on the ranks. Soldiers in Nigeria receive compensation based on their rank and length of service. The list below shows the current salary structure of the Nigerian Army.

The Nigerian Army salaries of commissioned officers ranging from the highest to the lowest are as follows:

• General – 1,500,000 Naira per month.
• Lieutenant General – Take home the sum of 1,000,00 Naira monthly.
• Major General – Major General receives the third highest with a sum of 950,000 Naira every month.
• Brigadier General – Receives N750,000 per month.
• Colonel – The Colonel takes home N550,000 every month.
• Lieutenant Colonel – Receives N350,000 monthly
• Major – 300,000 Naira monthly
• Captain – 220,000 Naira per month
• Lieutenant – Lieutenant’s monthly salary is 180,000 Naira
• Second Lieutenant – The Second Lieutenant takes home a monthly salary of N120,000

Below is how the men who risk their lives to protect you are paid every month after every other deduction has been made. It is important to note that they are provided with free housing and additional bonuses as part of their benefits. Moreover, they are exempt from paying for electricity consumption.

The Nigerian Army salaries of non-commissioned officers starting from the highest to the lowest are as follows:

• Master Warrant Officer – N90,000 every month.
• Warrant Officer – N80,000 monthly.
• Staff Sergeant – The Staff Sergeant’s monthly take home is 68,000 Naira.
• Sergeant – 63,000 Naira per month.
• Corporal – Corporal receives 58,000 Naira monthly.
• Lance Corporal – Lance Corporal earns about 54,000 – 55,000 Naira per month.
• Private Soldier – Private Soldier earns between 48,000 – 49,000 Naira monthly

The above list is the current Nigerian Army salary structure.

If you are considering becoming a member of the Nigerian Army it might interest you to know that the Nigerian Army recruits every year. If you wish to contribute to safeguarding the country from internal and external challenges, kindly access the Nigerian Army recruitment portal for further details on the application process.