Who Is The Highest Paid Military Force in Nigeria 2024? See Answer
Last updated on August 3rd, 2023 at 12:11 am
The military in Nigeria is made up of the army, air force and the Navy. They are among the respected organizations in the country. It is no surprise that information as to which of these armed forces pay highest is normally sought after.
To answer the question as to who is the highest paid military force in Nigeria, we researched and found out that among the army, navy and air force, it is the Nigerian Air force that is paid more.
Getting a job in this outfit is very competitive especially if you want to enroll as a senior officer through the direct short service (DSSC). According to an online medium, although the monthly take home pay of the Air force is higher than that of army or navy, their is more stability in the Navy than the rest in terms of career.
You can apply for the airforce job when they offer their recruitment on their website. Normally, they offer recruitment for senior officers and junior officers. We shall take a look at the NAF ranks before we delve into the Nigerian Air force salary structure.
Nigerian Air force Ranks
Commissioned Officers
- Marshal of the Air Force
- Air Chief Marshal
- Air Marshal
- Air Vice Marshal
- Air Commodore
- Group Captain
- Wing Commander
- Squadron Leader
- Flight Lieutenant
- Flying Officer
- Pilot Officer
- Airmen
Non commissioned officers
- Air Warrant Officer.
- Master Warrant Officer.
- Warrant Officer.
- Flight Sergeant.
- Sergeant.
- Corporal.
- Lance Corporal.
- Aircraftman/woman
The yearly salaries of senior officers in the Nigerian air force runs in millions of Naira. For example, a Vice Admiral annual salary is ₦13,363,229 while the salary of a Rear Admiral is ₦12,038,945. A commander in the air force yearly salary is about ₦3,380,086.
Monthly Salary structure of the Nigerian Air force
Pilot Officer earns N187,159
Flying Officer earns N218,400
Flight Lieutenant earns N232,484
Squadron Leader earns N248,004
Wing Comdr earns N342,586
Group Captain earns N352,631
Air Commodore earns N677,895
Air Vice-Marshal earns N1,376,343
Air Marshal earns N1,486,451
Air Chief Marshal earns N1,724,283
Trainee earns N10,237
Aircraft man/woman earns N53,892
Lance Corporal earns N55,832
Corporal earns N58,634
Sergeant earns N69,261
Flight Sergeant earns N87,119
Warrant Officer earns N101,974
Master Warrant Officer earns N165,697
Cadet (Trainee) earns N44,564
Air Warrant Officer earns N171,793
With the above information of the highest paid military force in the country, Nigerians looking for a military job still prefer joining the Navy or air force than the army. Which ever you choose, the salary is on the high side for the commissioned officers.
Advantage of Joining the Nigerian Air force (Highest Paid Force in the Nigerian Military)
- Physical fitness will be a priority which will make you strong.
- Apart from being paid well, there are other allowances accrued as an officer.
- You will travel places as you are promoted.
- Your salary is due to increase as you are being promoted.
- Your respect as a military man or woman is retained especially when you are on camouflage.
The Highest Paid Military in Nigeria And Their Salaries 2023
Also known as the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian military consists of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The military is divided into three (3) units – the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.
The Nigerian Army (NA) is the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and responsible for land warfare operations. It is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC).
The Nigerian Navy on the other hand is the branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces saddle with the responsibility of Naval defense while the military Air Force is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
On the African continent, Nigeria has one of the strongest military and has helped in curtailing excesses and crime of those distrusting peace in Nigeria and some parts of Africa.
The Nigerian military had been involved in the Congo Crisis, the Nigerian Civil War, 1983 Chadian military affair, First Liberian Civil War, Second Liberian Civil War, Sierra Leone Civil War, Conflict in the Niger Delta, Northern Mali conflict, and the war against Boko Haram Insurgency which started 2009 till date.
The conflict in Niger Delta and Northern Mali is still ongoing and the Nigerian Army are playing active in law and order maintenance.
The 3 units of the Nigerian Military is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff. Each of the units have its own leader.
The Army is headed by the Chief of Army Staff, the Navy by the Chief of Naval Staff and the Air Force by the Chief of Air Staff.
Aside their leadership and the area they exercise their duties, one of the areas they differ is the amount they are paid.
On a general note, the Nigerian Air force is the highest paid military force in Nigeria. Let take a look at the Nigerian Air Force salary structure and how much each personnel earn based on his/her rank.
The Nigerian Air force Salary Structure 2023
Until 1962, the Nigerian armed forces never had an air-wing. In fact, many law makers believed it is of no use and if need arises, we can rely on the United Kingdom for air defence.
This idea changed during a peacekeeping operation in Congo and Tanganyika when they saw the need because they had no air transport of their own.
Today, the Nigerian Air Force had grown to be one of the largest on the African continent with over 10,000 personnel and with over 30 aircrafts consisting of fighters, trainers, armed helicopters and other military transport aircrafts.
The Consolidate Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS) is what the salary of the Nigerian Airforce is based on. The pay of officers, disregarding other considerations, differ according to rank.
This means as personnel in the Airforce increase in rank, his/her pay automatically follow suit. We all know there’s a sharp difference between commissioned and non-commissioned officers and this is reflected in their salary structures.
Non-commissioned officers are military officers who have not earned a commission. They usually obtain their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks.
The Commissioned officers on the other hand hold higher degrees than the Non-commissioned officers, have more legal responsibilities, earn more ad often have non-military training such as a university degree.
The commissioned officers usually earn their commissions without having risen through the enlisted ranks. While the Non-commissioned officers are seen as the backbone of the military, the commissioned officers are seen as the management.
It is the commissioned officers that tell the non-commissioned officers what to do and not to do.
The salary structure of both the non-commissioned officers and that of the commissioned officers is listed below.
Non-commissioned Officers Salary
- Trainee = N10,237 monthly
- Aircraft men/women = N53,892 monthly
- Lance corporal = N55,832 monthly
- Corporal = N58,634 monthly
- Sergeant = N69,261 monthly
- Flight Sergeant = N87,119 monthly
- Warrant officer = N101,974 monthly
- Master warrant officer = N165,697 monthly
Commissioned Officers Salary
- Pilot Officer = N187,159 monthly
- Flying Officer = N218,400 monthly
- Flight Lieutenant = N232,484 monthly
- Squadron Leader = N248,004 monthly
- Wing Comdr = N342,586 monthly
- Group Captain = N352,631 monthly
- Air Commodore = N677,895 monthly
- Air Vice-Marshal = N1,376,343 monthly
- Air Marshal = N1,486,451 monthly
- Air Chief Marshal = N1,724,283 monthly
