Nigerian Army Salary 2024, Ranks And Allowance

The Nigerian Army is the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces, which consists of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, and the Nigerian Army.

The Nigerian Army is responsible for land warfare operations. It is an essential component of military power in Nigeria, with a long history of service and sacrifice. It is said that the Nigerian Army is the backbone of the Nigerian Military.

In this blog post, we will look at the Nigerian Army Ranks, Salary, and Allowances in 2024. We will also compare the Nigerian Army Salary with the Nigerian Police Salary, and see how they differ.

Nigerian Army Ranks

The Nigerian Army has a structure of ranks that is a standard practice in most military organizations around the world. The ranks are classified into two categories: the Commissioned Officers and the Non-Commissioned Officers.

The Commissioned Officers are those who joined the Nigerian Army as a graduate or those who went through the Nigerian Defence Academy to be commissioned into the Nigerian Army.

The Commissioned Officers are the leaders and commanders of the Nigerian Army, and they have more authority and responsibility than the Non-Commissioned Officers. The Commissioned Officers include the following:

• General: This is the highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and the General is the Chief of Army Staff, who is the head of the entire Nigerian Army. The General is appointed by the President of Nigeria, and is responsible for the administration, policy, and operation of the Nigerian Army. The General also oversees the activities of the other Commissioned Officers, and reports directly to the President.
• Lieutenant General: This is the second-highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually three Lieutenant Generals in the Nigerian Army. The Lieutenant Generals are in charge of different commands, such as the Army Headquarters, the Training and Doctrine Command, and the Operations Command. The Lieutenant Generals report to the General, and assist him in carrying out his duties.
• Major General: This is the third-highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually six Major Generals in the Nigerian Army. The Major Generals are in charge of different divisions, which are the largest units in the Nigerian Army. The Major Generals report to the Lieutenant Generals, and supervise the activities of the Brigadier Generals in their divisions.
• Brigadier General: This is the fourth-highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually 15 Brigadier Generals in the Nigerian Army. The Brigadier Generals are in charge of different brigades, which are the second-largest units in the Nigerian Army. The Brigadier Generals report to the Major Generals, and oversee the activities of the Colonels in their brigades.
• Colonel: This is the fifth-highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually 30 Colonels in the Nigerian Army. The Colonels are in charge of different battalions, which are the third-largest units in the Nigerian Army. The Colonels report to the Brigadier Generals, and supervise the activities of the Lieutenant Colonels in their battalions.
• Lieutenant Colonel: This is the sixth-highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually 60 Lieutenant Colonels in the Nigerian Army. The Lieutenant Colonels are in charge of different companies, which are the fourth-largest units in the Nigerian Army. The Lieutenant Colonels report to the Colonels, and supervise the activities of the Majors in their companies.
• Major: This is the seventh-highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually 120 Majors in the Nigerian Army. The Majors are in charge of different platoons, which are the fifth-largest units in the Nigerian Army. The Majors report to the Lieutenant Colonels, and supervise the activities of the Captains in their platoons.
• Captain: This is the eighth-highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually 240 Captains in the Nigerian Army. The Captains are in charge of different sections, which are the sixth-largest units in the Nigerian Army. The Captains report to the Majors, and supervise the activities of the Lieutenants in their sections.
• Lieutenant: This is the ninth-highest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually 480 Lieutenants in the Nigerian Army. The Lieutenants are the junior officers in the Nigerian Army, and they are the leaders of small teams of soldiers. The Lieutenants report to the Captains, and follow their orders.

The Non-Commissioned Officers are those who went through the Nigerian Army Depot to be enlisted into the Nigerian Army. The Non-Commissioned Officers are the backbone and the majority of the Nigerian Army, and they perform the various duties and tasks assigned to them by the Commissioned Officers. The Non-Commissioned Officers include the following:

• Warrant Officer Class I: This is the highest rank among the Non-Commissioned Officers, and there are usually 240 Warrant Officers Class I in the Nigerian Army. The Warrant Officers Class I are the seniors of the Non-Commissioned Officers, and they are the advisers and mentors of the other Non-Commissioned Officers. The Warrant Officers Class I report to the Lieutenants, and assist them in managing the Non-Commissioned Officers.
• Warrant Officer Class II: This is the second-highest rank among the Non-Commissioned Officers, and there are usually 480 Warrant Officers Class II in the Nigerian Army. The Warrant Officers Class II are the seniors of the Sergeants, and they are the leaders of large teams of soldiers. The Warrant Officers Class II report to the Warrant Officers Class I, and assist them in managing the Sergeants and the Corporals.
• Staff Sergeant: This is the third-highest rank among the Non-Commissioned Officers, and there are usually 960 Staff Sergeants in the Nigerian Army. The Staff Sergeants are the seniors of the Sergeants, and they are the leaders of medium-sized teams of soldiers. The Staff Sergeants report to the Warrant Officers Class II, and assist them in managing the Sergeants and the Corporals.
• Sergeant: This is the fourth-highest rank among the Non-Commissioned Officers, and there are usually 1,920 Sergeants in the Nigerian Army. The Sergeants are the seniors of the Corporals, and they are the leaders of small teams of soldiers. The Sergeants report to the Staff Sergeants, and assist them in managing the Corporals and the Privates.
• Corporal: This is the fifth-highest rank among the Non-Commissioned Officers, and there are usually 3,840 Corporals in the Nigerian Army. The Corporals are the seniors of the Privates, and they are the members of small teams of soldiers. The Corporals report to the Sergeants, and follow their orders.
• Lance Corporal: This is the sixth-highest rank among the Non-Commissioned Officers, and there are usually 7,680 Lance Corporals in the Nigerian Army. The Lance Corporals are the juniors of the Corporals, and they are the members of small teams of soldiers. The Lance Corporals report to the Corporals, and follow their orders.
• Private: This is the lowest rank in the Nigerian Army, and there are usually 15,360 Privates in the Nigerian Army. The Privates are the most common soldiers in the Nigerian Army, and they are the ones who perform the various duties and tasks assigned to them by the Non-Commissioned Officers. The Privates report to the Lance Corporals, and follow their orders.

SSCE certificate holders who join the Nigerian Army are placed at the rank of Private while those who joined the Army with NCE or National Diploma are also placed at the rank of Lance Corporal.

Those that joined the Nigerian Army with HND or BSC are placed on the rank of Second Lieutenant or Lieutenant depending on the commission they joined. Those who joined the Nigerian Army with HND or BSC through SSC are the ones who obtain the rank of Second Lieutenant while those who joined through the DSSC are the ones who obtain the rank of Lieutenant.

Nigerian Army Commissioned Officers Ranks

1. Second Lieutenant
2. Lieutenant
3. Captain
4. Major
5. Lieutenant Colonel
6. Colonel
7. Brigadier General
8. Major General
9. Lieutenant General
10. General

Nigerian Army Non-Commissioned Officers Ranks

1. Private
2. Lance Corporal
3. Corporal
4. Sergeant
5. Staff Sergeant
6. Warrant Officer
7. Master Warrant Officer
8. Army Warrant Officer

Nigerian Army Salary

The Nigerian Army Salary varies based on their rank and years of service. Those who joined the Nigerian Army with SSCE certificate are paid about #50,000 as starting salary while those that joined the Army using NCE or National Diploma are also paid about #50,000 as starting salary. For the HND and BSC certificate holders in the Nigerian Army, They are paid about #120,000 as starting salary.

According to the Nigerian Army, the General is the highest paid Nigerian Army officer, with a monthly salary of over N1.5 million. The Lieutenant General earns a monthly salary of over N1 million, while the Major General earns over N900,000 monthly.

Below is the complete table of the Nigerian Army Salary in 2024, based on the ranks and years of service of the officers.

Rank	Years of Service	Monthly Salary
General	20+	N1,500,000
Lieutenant General	18-20	N1,000,000
Major General	16-18	N900,000
Brigadier General	14-16	N800,000
Colonel	12-14	N700,000
Lieutenant Colonel	10-12	N600,000
Major	8-10	N500,000
Captain	6-8	N400,000
Lieutenant	4-6	N300,000
Second Lieutenant	2-4	N200,000
Warrant Officer Class I	20+	N150,000
Warrant Officer Class II	18-20	N120,000
Staff Sergeant	16-18	N100,000
Sergeant	14-16	N80,000
Corporal	12-14	N70,000
Lance Corporal	10-12	N60,000
Private	8-10	N50,000

Nigerian Army Allowances

The Nigerian Army personnel also receive other benefits such as Training Allowance, Special Forces Allowance, Transport Allowance, Operation Allowance, and Uniform Allowance. Below are some allowances which you can expect as a military personnel in the Nigerian Army.

• Training Allowance: This allowance is paid to Nigerian Army officers who undergo various training programs, such as the Basic Military Training, the Advanced Military Training, the Command and Staff College, and the National Defence College. The Training Allowance depends on the level and duration of the training, and it ranges from N10,000 to N50,000 per month.
• Special Forces Allowance: This allowance is paid to Nigerian Army officers who belong to the Special Forces units, such as the Airborne, the Amphibious, the Counter-Terrorism, and the Special Operations. The Special Forces Allowance depends on the nature and intensity of the operations, and it ranges from N50,000 to N100,000 per month.
• Transport Allowance: This allowance is paid to Nigerian Army officers to support their transportation needs, such as fuel, maintenance, and repairs. The Transport Allowance varies from N20,000 to N40,000 per month, depending on the rank of the officer.
• Operation Allowance: This allowance is paid to Nigerian Army officers who participate in various operations, such as the Operation Lafiya Dole, the Operation Delta Safe, and the Operation Crocodile Smile. The Operation Allowance depends on the location and duration of the operation, and it ranges from N30,000 to N50,000 per month.
• Uniform Allowance: This allowance is paid to Nigerian Army officers to cover the cost of their uniforms and accessories, such as boots, belts, and badges. The Uniform Allowance varies from N10,000 to N20,000 per annum, depending on the rank of the officer.

Conclusion

The Nigerian Army is one of the most important institutions in the country, and it deserves to be well compensated for its services. The Nigerian Army Salary, Ranks, and Allowances are designed to reflect the hierarchy, qualifications, and responsibilities of the officers.

However, there is still room for improvement, as the Nigerian Army faces many challenges, such as inadequate funding, poor equipment, corruption, and low morale.

We hope that this blog post has given you some insight into the Nigerian Army Salary, Ranks, and Allowances in 2024. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below.