Florence Allor Abuja.
Nigeria recently commemorated the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration, NADCEL, recognising the courage, professionalism, and sacrifices of the Nigerian Army in safeguarding our nation’s sovereignty and democratic institutions.
A key highlight was the increase in the minimum monthly salary for entry-level soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000. This commendable step demonstrates that progress is attainable. However, it must mark the beginning—not the culmination—of a broader national dialogue on military welfare.
Military welfare extends far beyond salaries; it encompasses quality healthcare, mental health services, decent housing, education for service children, family support, timely pensions, rehabilitation for wounded personnel, survivor benefits, and veteran care. A nation that asks its Armed Forces to make extraordinary sacrifices must demonstrate an enduring commitment to their well-being.
Daily, our service personnel confront terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and piracy under perilous conditions. Behind every service member stands a sacrificing family managing household burdens and enduring the anxiety of deployment. Supporting these families is not merely a social obligation; it is fundamental to military readiness.
As a Healthcare Consultant and Health Information Management professional, I believe strengthening military healthcare represents one of Nigeria’s greatest reform opportunities. Modern armed forces require robust access to preventive medicine, trauma care, mental health support, and secure health information systems.
Healthcare must be treated as a strategic national security investment rather than a mere budgetary cost. Modernising military healthcare through electronic medical records, telemedicine, standardised Health Information Management practices, and digital systems will eliminate administrative delays and enhance continuity of care.
Mental health requires equal focus. The invisible wounds of service can be as debilitating as physical injury. Expanded access to confidential counselling, resilience training, and peer-support programmes will bolster both personal well-being and operational readiness.
Welfare also drives recruitment and retention. Young Nigerians are drawn to a military career when it offers competitive compensation, quality healthcare, and family security. Retaining experienced personnel preserves institutional memory and strengthens operational capabilities.Sustainable reform requires collaboration across the Ministry of Defence, National Assembly, Federal Ministry of Health, academic institutions, and veterans’ bodies.
These partnerships should complement—not displace—the government’s core duty to provide for service personnel.Furthermore, Nigeria should formulate a comprehensive National Military Welfare Strategy featuring measurable targets, transparent reporting, and long-term planning. This framework must seamlessly integrate healthcare, housing, veterans’ services, digital modernisation, and family support.Ultimately, military welfare is an investment in national security, human capital, and institutional resilience. The recent salary increase provides vital momentum.
We must now build upon it to ensure our policies genuinely reflect the value we place on our defenders.The true measure of a grateful nation is found not in ceremonial parades, but in the commitments we honour. The men and women of Nigeria’s Armed Forces have answered the call to defend our homeland.
The question before us is simple: Will Nigeria answer the call to serve them?
_*Honorable Ambassador Princess Asha Okojie, MBA, BS-HIM, is a Healthcare Consultant, Health Information Management professional, public policy advocate, and former Labour Party Governorship Aspirant for Edo State (2024).
