This article is fully loaded with all you need to know about the Nigerian Military Ranks, Symbols and Salary Structures for the Navy, Army and Airforce.
The Nigerian army is known to be the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army (NA) and the Nigerian Airforce personnel are all called the Army. Though they have different responsibilities.
For example, the Nigerian Army (NA) is responsible for ground warfare operations or the land warfare operations, while the Nigerian Navy (NN) is a branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces that is responsible for Guarding the Coastal region (Sea, Oceans and other water bodies) of the Nation and the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) is the air branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
You might be wondering why the Nigerian Police isn’t mentioned; the Nigerian Police are not regarded as force, they are only issued weapons when there is a need for specific operations. To know more about the Nigerian Police, see the recommended link below.
Recommended: Nigeria Police Ranks and Symbols – All You Need to Know
For every of the questions you might have like; What is the Nigerian military salary structure? What is the salary of the Nigerian Navy? What is the salary of the Nigerian Army, What is the salary of the Nigerian Airforce? What does Nigeria Military Ranks entail? What are the Armed Forces made up of? Pay attention as we do justice to all your questions.
Firstly, you need to know that the Nigerian Military Ranks are of much each personnel or soldier will know where he belongs and give respect to whom deserves respect. The Nigerian Military ranks are also important for a soldier to know whom he will receive orders from.
The Nigerian Military Ranks is of three parts namely;
- The Army (NA)
- The Navy (NN)
- The Air Force (NAF)
Generally, the military is referred to as the Armed Forces (The Nigerian Armed Forces). They are the ones that enforce authority, making sure that law is inculcated so as to protect the citizens of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Military’s primary duty is to ward off attacks from terrorists, and also to defend against attacks from other countries.
Functions of the Nigerian Military
What are the duties of the Nigerian Army? What is the duty of the Nigerian Military? Below are the primary functions of the Nigerian Military;
- To manage the affairs of the citizens.
- The Nigerian Army (NA) takes all the responsibilities for operations in land conflicts.
- To offer some emergency services.
- To coordinate the enforcement of immigration laws and customs.
- To guard the nation’s interest and ensuring stability within the country.
In most cases, the head of the military of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is usually the President of Nigeria, so currently, the Commander in chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces is President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the Global Firepower Rankings, the Nigerian Armed Forces is one of the best militaries in Africa, in fact, Nigeria Armed Forces is the 4th Strongest Military in Africa.
Recommended: Strongest Military in Africa Global Firepower (GFP)
Benefits Of Joining the Military
What are the benefits of joining the military? There are various benefits of being a soldier, though ranks are usually misused by most military officers or even the junior soldiers, nevertheless, there are some cool benefits of joining the military, and some are listed below;
- Medical and dental insurance: You are fully covered while on active duty, not only you, even your family, you get free treatment and drugs.
- Relief Provisions: This happens mostly after days of service without breaks, you get some relief provisions.
- Education: There are several paths that allow Army members to studies more while they are an active part of the Army, they are being sponsored to get more education in their respective fields.
- Ranks: As the year passes by, you are entitled to move from one rank to the other, also this can be determined by how good you are at doing your service.
- Retirement: There are some packages in place once you retire, you still get money from the government.
There are other more incentives, but just to mention a few that is why we have listed the ones above.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria of which the Nigerian Army is part of boast of 1,400 armored vehicles, over 350 armored tanks, 6,000 logistical vehicles, 300 warcraft, 25 high-powered naval vessels, with an estimated budgetary defense allocation of about $2.4 billion, which makes her ranked fourth-best military in Africa.
The Nigerian Army (NA)
The history of the Nigerian Army started some years back, the Nigerian Army, a branch of the Nigeria Armed Forces was founded in 1960, immediately after Nigeria’s Independence. The motto off the Nigerian Army is “Victory is from God alone,” with its headquarters located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The current Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army is Major-General Farouk Yahaya, he was installed after the previous COAS Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru died in a plane crash on 21 May 2021.
Being the largest branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces the Nigerian Army (NA) is in charge of land military operations, mostly works hand in hand with the Nigerian Air Force which helps in the aerial bombardment of enemy camps.
The Nigerian Army (NA) is responsible for the prevention of insurgency/terrorist attacks in the country. Currently, Nigeria boasts of over 200,000 soldiers of various ranks.
The primary assignment of the Nigerian Army is the enforcement of the law according to the constitution, to maintain security and order, fighting wars and mobilization of troops and supplies nationwide.
The Nigerian Army has quite good peace-keeping mission profile and so far engaged in different warfare such as;
- Nigerian civil war
- Peace Keeping mission in Mali.
- Peace Keeping mission Sudan.
- Peace Keeping mission Liberia.
- Congo Crises
- First Liberian civil war
- Niger Delta conflict.
- Boko Haram Insurgency and many more.
The official website of the Nigerian Army is https://army.mil.ng, which takes charge of the updates of the Nigerian Army and the recruitment process. The Nigerian Army categorized officers into two sections which are;
- The commissioned officers
- The non-commissioned officers
The Nigerian Army Ranks & Salaries
Here we will update you about the latest Ranks in the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Army Salary Structures from the highest rank to the lowest rank.
Now let us start from commissioned officers in the Nigerian Army.
Commissioned Officers Salaries
The Nigerian Commissioned Officers are of 11 ranks, and we have arranged them from highest to lowest. No officer has ever attained the position of a field a Field Marshall rank in Nigeria. Below is the Military ranks of Nigeria Army and the salary they earn;
| S/N | Rank | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Field Marshall | Null |
| 2. | General | ₦1,500,000 |
| 3. | Lieutenant General | ₦1,000,000 |
| 4. | Major General | ₦950,000 |
| 5. | Brigadier General | ₦750,000 |
| 6. | Colonel | ₦550,000 |
| 7. | Lieutenant – colonel | ₦350,000 |
| 8. | Major | ₦300,000 |
| 9. | Captain | ₦220,000 |
| 10. | First lieutenant | ₦180,000 |
| 11. | Second Lieutenant | ₦120,000 |
Non-Commissioned Officers Salaries
The Nigerian Non-Commissioned Officers are of 8 ranks, and we have arranged them from highest to lowest. below is the Military ranks of Nigeria Army and the salary they earn;
| S/N | Rank | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Master warrant officer | ₦90,000 |
| 2. | Warrant officer | ₦80,000 |
| 3. | Staff sergeant | ₦68,000 |
| 4. | Sergeant | ₦63,000 |
| 5. | Corporal | ₦58,000 |
| 6. | Lance corporal | ₦54,000 – ₦55,000 |
| 7. | Private | ₦48,000 – ₦49,000 |
| 8. | Recruit | N/A |
The Nigerian Navy (NN)
According to the history of the Nigerian Navy with an abbreviation of “NA”, the Nigerian Navy was founded in 1959 but was termed the “Royal Nigerian Navy”. The origin of the Nigerian Navy could be traced to the Marine Department of the Royal Navy which was established in the year 1887 as a quasi-military organization, which combined the duties of the present-day Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority and the Nigerian Navy.
Three years from when Nigeria became a republic in 1963, the Royal Nigerian Navy was then changed to the Nigerian Navy, the motto of the Nigerian Navy is “Onward Together” and the current chief of naval staff is Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.
Nigerian Navy is a branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces, just like the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force, they do have their training together of which after the normal 9 months of training, the Nigerian Navy then proceed with their core training.
Among the Nigerian Military Ranks in Africa, The Nigerian Navy tops the list as they are well equipped and well trained, the Nigerian Navy has recorded various success in its operations.
The Nigerian Navy is responsible for operational activities on the Nigerian waters, they have authority over every water that surround Nigeria and anything coming through the sea to Nigeria. The Navy is responsible for the protection of the borders of the country.
The Nigerian Navy also enforces the customs law of the country. The duties and functions of the Nigerian Navy can be seen in the 1964 Act of the Nigerian Constitution.
The Nigerian Navy safeguard the citizens or ships legitimately coming into the country from attacks from pirates and other criminal elements. The Nigerian Navy implements and enforces all national maritime laws.
The official website of the Nigerian Navy is https://www.navy.mil.ng, which takes charge of the updates of the Nigerian Army and the recruitment process.
Like the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy is also divided into two sections namely;
- Commissioned officers
- Non- Commissioned officers
The Nigerian Navy Ranks & Salaries
If you have been wanting to know how much the Nigerian Navy Officers earn then this will do justice to your question. Here we will update you about the latest Ranks in the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Naval Officers Salary Structures from the highest rank to the lowest rank.
Commissioned Officers Salaries
The Nigerian Navy Commissioned Officers are of 12 ranks, and we have arranged them from highest to lowest. below is the Military ranks of Nigeria Navy and the salary they earn;
| S/N | Rank | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Admiral of the fleet | (Not Specified) |
| 2. | Admiral | ₦1,358,595 |
| 3. | Vice Admiral | ₦1,113,602 |
| 4. | Rear Admiral | ₦1,003,245 |
| 5. | Commodore | ₦615,488 |
| 6. | Captain | ₦309,488 |
| 7. | Commander | ₦281,674 |
| 8. | Lieutenant Commander | ₦293,484 |
| 9. | Lieutenant | ₦250,000 |
| 10. | Sub Lieutenant | ₦19,400 |
| 11. | Acting Sub – Lieutenant | ₦200,000 |
| 12. | Mid – Ship man | ₦188,159 |
Non-Commissioned Officers Salaries
The Nigerian Navy Non-Commissioned Officers are of 7 ranks, and we have arranged them from highest to lowest. below is the Military ranks of Nigeria Navy and the salary they earn;
| S/N | Rank | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Warrant Chief Petty Officer | ₦165,697 |
| 2. | Chief Petty Officer | ₦109,974 |
| 3. | Petty Officer | ₦75,261 |
| 4. | Leading Rating | ₦68,634 |
| 5. | Able Rating | ₦60,832 |
| 6. | Ordinary Rating | ₦53,892 |
| 7. | Trainee | ₦10,237 |
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
The Nigerian Air Force is the third branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces/Nigerian Military with an abbreviation NAF, the history of the Nigerian Air Force started on the 18th of April 1964 when it was established. The Nigerian Air Force boasts of over 100,000 active personnel, having its headquarters in the heart of Nigeria the FCT, Abuja.
With the Nigerian Air Force Military might, they were able to grab success during the following wars the Nigerian Airforce participated in;
- The Nigerian civil war
- Sierra Leone civil war
- Invasion of Gambia
- Liberian first civil war
- Boko Haram insurgency
- Niger Delta conflict and many more.
The success speaks for the Nigerian Air Force, that is the main reason why they are rated as one of the best Air Force in Africa.
The Nigerian Air Force have some sophisticated fighters jets like the Alpha Jet, Aero L-39, Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano and many more being procured yearly and they have well-trained officers/ fighters.
The current chief of the Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force is Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar. Note that the Marshall of the Air Force is the highest rank in the Nigerian Air Force. It is synonymous with the Field Marshall of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Nigerian Air Force Motto is “Willing … Able … Ready” and the Nigerian Air Force official website is https://airforce.mil.ng which is used to disseminate information and also for the recruitment of new Air Force officials.
The Nigerian Air Force also have similar structure just like the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy;
- Commissioned officers
- Non- Commissioned officers
The Nigerian Air Force Ranks & Salaries
What is the salary of the Nigerian Air Force personnel? How much does an Air Force official earn? The answer to these questions are below. Here we will update you about the latest Ranks in the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Air Force Officers Salary Structures from the highest rank to the lowest rank.
Commissioned Officers Salaries
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Commissioned Officers are of 10 ranks, and we have arranged them from highest to lowest. below is the Military ranks of Nigeria AirForce and the salary they earn;
| S/N | Rank | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Air Chief Marshal | ₦1.7 million |
| 2. | Air Marshal | ₦1.5 million |
| 3. | Air Vice-Marshal | ₦1.37 million |
| 4. | Air Commodore | ₦677,000 |
| 5. | Group Captain | ₦352,000 |
| 6. | Wing Commander | ₦342,000 |
| 7. | Squadron Leader | ₦248,000 |
| 8. | Flight Lieutenant | ₦232,000 |
| 9. | Flying Officers | ₦218,000 |
| 10. | Pilot Officers | ₦187,000 |
Non-Commissioned Officers Salaries
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Non-Commissioned Officers are of 8 ranks, and we have arranged them from highest to lowest. below is the Military ranks of Nigeria AirForce and the salary they earn;
| S/N | Rank | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Air Warrant Officer | ₦171,800 |
| 2. | Master Warrant Officer | ₦165,700 |
| 3. | Warrant Officer | ₦101,900 |
| 4. | Staff Sergeant | ₦87,100 |
| 5. | Sergeant | ₦69,200 |
| 6. | Corporal | ₦58,600 |
| 7. | Lance Corporal | ₦55,800 |
| 8. | Aircraftman | ₦53,800 |
According to the information we’ve provided on this post, it is glaring that the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force salary structure of personnel in the military armed forces are similarly based on rank.
Nevertheless, we’ve only stated their salaries but didn’t include the various allowances they get from the Nigerian Federal Government, they deserve more though and we should always appreciate them.
Which is The Highest Paid Force?
The highest-paid force among the Nigerian Military is the Nigerian Air Force, followed by the Nigerian Navy and then the Nigerian Army earns the least. Though the Nigerian Army has always been the most engaged due to the increase in militancy and various insurgencies happening in Nigeria recently.
If you have the passion to join the Military, then the Nigerian Air Force should be your focus, though you know what is best for you as you alone can make the right decisions.
Nigerian Military Symbols
The Military ranks of Nigeria are noted with military insignia or emblem used by the Nigerian Armed Forces to show the ranks of their personnel/officers. Being a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Nigeria shares a rank structure similar to that of the United Kingdom.
Below is a table showing the military ranks of Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force;
Nigerian Army Ranks and Symbol
Nigerian Navy Ranks and Symbol
Nigerian Air Force Ranks and Symbol
Read also: Largest Armies In The World: Global Firepower
Conclusion
The Nigeria military is one strong force to reckon with, Nigeria as a country has its allies and also has a yearly budget that keeps the military running. Also, I will like to inform you that Nigerian Military personnel are not allowed to own or operate a bank account outside of Nigeria.
I’m sure this information we’ve provided on Nigeria military salary structure guide has been helpful, now that you are well updated about the salary of the Army, Navy and AirForce you should be able to make the best out of it.
- Functions of the Nigerian Military
- Benefits Of Joining the Military
- The Nigerian Army (NA)
- The Nigerian Navy (NN)
- The Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
- Which is The Highest Paid Force?
- Nigerian Military Symbols
FAQs
Which is The Highest Paid Force?
The highest-paid force among the Nigerian Military is the Nigerian Air Force, followed by the Nigerian Navy and then the Nigerian Army earns the least.
What are the duties of the Nigerian Army?
Below are the primary functions of the Nigerian Military;
1. To manage the affairs of the citizens.
2. The Nigerian Army (NA) takes all the responsibilities for operations in land conflicts.
3. To offer some emergency services.
4. To coordinate the enforcement of immigration laws and customs.
5. To guard the nation’s interest and ensuring stability within the country.
What are the benefits of joining the military?
The following are the benefits of joining the military;
1. Medical and dental insurance: You are fully covered while on active duty, not only you, even your family, you get free treatment and drugs.
2. Relief Provisions: This happens mostly after days of service without breaks, you get some relief provisions.
3. Education: There are several paths that allow Army members to studies more while they are an active part of the Army, they are being sponsored to get more education in their respective fields.
4. Ranks: As the year passes by, you are entitled to move from one rank to the other, also this can be determined by how good you are at doing your service.
5. Retirement: There are some packages in place once you retire, you still get money from the government.
My God bless you have Macy on u and your families help you protected you.
I love it by God grace I will join you may God help us together.
I as an aspiring airforce officer to be, hereby appriciate your effort by restoring peace,may God guide and protect you all
I like to be a Force man I’m looking for a job
Am looking for job ,i really want to become a force
God bless Nigerian military armey forces
God bless nigerian army and airforce