Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, describing the decision as a major step towards boosting troops’ morale.

The salary adjustment, which is expected to take effect next month, will benefit about 250,000 military personnel and increase the Armed Forces’ annual wage bill from N660 billion to N924 billion.

Under the new structure, officers above the rank of colonel, including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals, will receive a 30 per cent salary increase.

Personnel from the rank of colonel down to warrant officer will receive a 50 per cent increase, while those from private to staff sergeant will get an 80 per cent increase.

Ndume, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on Army, made the remarks in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the salary review, alongside the recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12, showed that the President had a strategic plan to tackle terrorism, banditry and other security threats confronting the country.

According to the senator, improved remuneration would go a long way in motivating soldiers and officers who continue to operate in difficult and dangerous environments.

“This coming after his recent expansion of military divisions from eight to 12 shows that Mr. President has his own blueprint aimed at dealing with the scourge of terrorism and banditry.

“The review of salary will go a long way in motivating our military personnel. I have been in the vanguard of better motivation for our men and officers in the military in terms of decent living wage.

“President Tinubu has once again proved that he is a responsive leader who doesn’t shut his mind to genuine and legitimate agitation of Nigerians,” he said.

However, Ndume stressed that improved salaries alone would not be enough to defeat insurgency, urging the Federal Government to complement the welfare package with the timely provision of arms, ammunition, logistics and modern technological equipment.

“I have always argued that aside better welfare package and training, what they need to deal with insurgents is prompt supply of arms and ammunition.

“I also want to urge Mr. President to keep up his pledge on the provision of weapons and technological tools required to the Armed Forces to effectively discharge their duties,” Ndume said.

The Borno South senator further called for the annual defence budget to be placed on First Line Charge to eliminate bureaucratic delays in the release and deployment of funds for military operations.

He criticised the current envelope budgeting system, saying delays between the Ministries of Defence and Finance could undermine effective military operations.

“All these can be achieved seamlessly if we put their annual budget on First Line Charge. This envelope budgeting is trapped in unnecessary bureaucracy between the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance.

“It is a big encumbrance to effective operations of our men and officers in the war theatre,” he said.

Ndume, an APC chieftain, urged President Tinubu to consider a system that would allow direct statutory transfers from the Federation Account to the military, similar to the funding arrangements available to some government agencies.

“Mr. President should seize the initiative to ensure direct statutory transfer from the Federation Account for the military as it is done with few agencies of government,” he added.