Nigerian Army Ranks And Salary Structure (2024)

Do you seek information about the Nigerian Army as well as their ranks and salary structure this 2024? Then, your search has brought you to the right place as Nigerian Search Guide will provide you with detailed information regarding the Nigerian Army as well as their monthly salary scale. Whether you want to know more about what it is like to be part of the Army in general or want to become a member of the Nigerian Army, understanding the Nigerian Army compensation Structure and their ranks are very important and for this reason, we have written this post.

There are many things you should understand about the Nigerian Army, particularly if you plan to enlist in it in the future. But before we get started, we would like to discuss the history of the Nigerian Army as well as its roles before delving into its pay scale and rank system. The largest component of the Nigerian Army Forces, the Nigerian Army is overseen by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC). It was established in 1960 and is in charge of land operations. In terms of size, it is one of Africa’s largest and most powerful armies.

HISTORY OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY

The history of the Nigerian Army dates to 1863, when Lt. Glover of the Royal Navy selected 18 indigenes from the Northern part of the country and organized them into a local force, known as the “Glover Hausa”. The small force was used by Glover as Governor of Lagos to mount punitive expedition in the Lagos hinterland and to protect British trade routes around Lagos.

In 1865, the “Glover Hausa” became a regular force with the name “Hausa Constabulary”. It performed both police and military duties for the Lagos colonial government. It later became the “Lagos Constabulary”. On incorporation into the West Africa Frontier Force (WAFF) in 1901, it became “Lagos Battalion”. In addition to this force, the British Government included the Royal Niger Company (RNC), Constabulary Force in Northern Nigeria in 1886 and the Oil Rivers irregular in 1891.

In 1889, Lord Fredrick Lugard had formed the incipient body of what was to be known in 1890, as the West Africa Frontier Force, (WAFF), in Jebba, Northern Nigeria. The new unit expanded by absorbing the Northern Nigeria-based elements of the Royal Niger Company (RNC) Constabulary. By the end of 1901, it had incorporated all paramilitary units in the other British dependencies into its command, thus fully meriting its designation “WAFF”.

The establishment of West Africa Frontier Force (WAFF) led to the merger of all units into regiment in each of the dependencies. The merger in Nigeria produced the Northern Nigerian Regiment and Southern Nigerian Regiment. The First commanders of the Southern Regiments of WAFF were Lt CHP Carter (1899-1901) and Col J Wilcox (1900-1909) respectively. The two regiments were later used for expeditions during the annexation of Nigeria by Lord Lugard between 1901 and 1903.

With the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, the unification of the Northern and Southern Regiments came into being and this witnessed the birth of the Nigerian Regiments. The Northern Nigerian Regiments became the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Nigerian Regiment, while the Southern Nigerian Regiment became the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Nigerian Regiments (NR). The Mounted Infantry of the Northern Regiments became the ordinary Infantry Battalion after the Second World War. A field artillery also existed in the Northern Regiment.

With the visit of Queen Elizabeth of Britain between January 28 and February 15, 1956, the Nigerian regiment was renamed the Queens Own Nigerian Regiments (QONR). Also in the same year, the regionalization of the WAFF came into existence and each military force became independent of the other. As a result, the QONR became the Nigerian Military Force (NMF).

By June 1, 1958, the British Army Council in London relinquished control of NMF to the Nigerian Government. In 1960, when Nigeria became independent, the NMF became known as the Royal Nigerian Army (RNA). When Nigeria became a republic, the RNA changed to the Nigerian Army. In the same year, the Army changed its uniform, rank structure and instruments from those of RWAFF to new ones including green khaki uniform.

FUNCTIONS OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY

The following are the important functions or duties of the Nigerian Army:

• To abide by the constitution
• To maintain Nigeria’s territorial integrity
• To defend Nigeria from external aggression
• To protect Nigeria’s land borders
• Train, equip, and organise new officers to carry out combat operations on land
• Perform basic defensive operations
• Coordinate the enforcement of immigration laws and customs
• to restore law and order in the event of an insurrection
• Defend Nigeria’s historic sites, natural resources, and areas of high importance
• Carry out any additional responsibilities specified in the National Assembly’s Act or as the President directs.

RANKS IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY

The ranks in the Nigerian Army are divided into two categories, they are:

• The commissioned officers and,
• The non-commissioned officers.

NIGERIAN ARMY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS RANKS

The Nigerian Army ranks for its commissioned officers from the highest rank to the lowest rank are as follows:

• Field Marshal
• General
• Lieutenant-General
• Major-General
• Brigadier-General
• Colonel
• Lieutenant-Colonel
• Major
• Captain
• First Lieutenant
• Second Lieutenant.

NIGERIAN ARMY NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS RANKS

The Nigerian Army ranks for its non-commissioned officers from the highest rank to the lowest rank are as follows:

• Master Warrant Officer
• Warrant Officer
• Staff Sergeant
• Sergeant
• Corporal
• Lance Corporal
• Private Soldier
• Recruit.

NIGERIAN ARMY SALARY STRUCTURE 2024 

The Nigerian army salary structure is based on the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFFS) and by it, officers of the Nigerian Army are paid their monthly salaries. The following are the current monthly salaries of Nigerian Army officers from highest rank to lowest rank this 2024:

• General: ₦1,500,000 per month
• Lieutenant-General: ₦1,000,00 per month
• Major-General: ₦950,000 per month
• Brigadier-General: ₦750,000 per month
• Colonel: ₦550,000 per month month
• Lieutenant-Colonel: ₦350,000 per month
• Major: ₦300,000 per month
• Captain: ₦220,000 per month
• Lieutenant: ₦180,000 per month
• Second-Lieutenant – ₦120,000 per month
• Master Warrant Officer: ₦90,000 per month
• Warrant Officer: ₦80,000 per month
• Staff Sergeant: ₦68,000 per month
• Sergeant: ₦63,000 per month
• Corporal: ₦58,000 per month
• Lance Corporal: ₦54,000 – ₦55,000 per month
• Private Soldier: ₦48,000 – ₦49,000 per month.