In case you decide to enroll in the Nigerian Army either for short service or as a recruit, it is important to know the ranks in the army and the pay structure per month.
With the ranking structure being one of the integral forces in the arrangement, order, and functionality of the Nigerian Army that is a branch of the armed forces of the country, ranks are also well defined in the Nigerian Army.
Each rank has its symbols, duties, and basic pay. In order to understand the order within the army and the functions of different individuals to people’s safety, it is important to know the ranks and symbols of the army.
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The Structure Of the Nigerian Army
The Nigerian Army personnel have a pay structure that is based on rank and years of service, and it is competitive to those of other arms of the Nigerian Armed forces.
These ranks do not only represent authority and control, but also represent the level of competence and skills every soldier has to offer in the service of their country. The structure of the Nigeria Army can be classified into two:
1. Non-Commissioned officers
A non-commissioned officer is one who has not been awarded a commission (a document awarding the bearer the rank of a commissioned officer). Noncommissioned officers go through the Regular Recruit Intake (RRI) scheme run by the Nigerian Army. The majority of non-commissioned officers advance to the rank of commissioned officer in due course.
Non-Commissioned officers Symbols
There are different categories and ranks of the non-commissioned officers in the Nigerian Army:
- Master Warrant Officer
- Warrant Officer
- Staff Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Lance Corporal
- Private Recruit
2. Commissioned officers
Commissioned Officers otherwise known as Direct Short Service Commission or Short Service Commission are the graduates from the Nigerian Defence Academy located in Kaduna. A Commissioned Officer is a senior military officer who has completed a course of training for appointment in a command or leadership position.
Commissioned officers symbols
- Field Marshal (5 star general and the highest rank in the Nigerian Army)
- General (4 star general)
- Lieutenant General (3 star general)
- Major General (2 star general)
- Brigadier General (1 star general)
- Colonel
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Major
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- Second Lieutenant.
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The Salary Structure of the Nigerian Army
The Nigerian army pays a reasonable figure as salary. The wage of the Nigerian army increases with every rank the soldier climbs. This is the estimated average monthly salary of the Nigerian Army staffs:
| S/N | Non-Commissioned Officers | Estimated Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Army Warrant Officer | ₦ 180,000 |
| 2 | Master Warrant Officer | ₦ 170,000 |
| 3 | Warrant Officer | ₦ 150,000 |
| 4 | Staff Sergeant | ₦ 130,000 |
| 5 | Sergeant | ₦ 100,000 |
| 6 | Corporal | ₦ 88,000 |
| 7 | Lance Corporal | ₦ 57,000 |
| 8 | Private Soldier | ₦ 50,000 |
| Commissioned Officers | Estimated Salary | |
| 1 | General | ₦ 1,500,000 |
| 2 | Lieutenant General | ₦ 1,000,000 |
| 3 | Major General | ₦ 950,000 |
| 4 | Brigadier General | ₦ 750,000 |
| 5 | Colonel | ₦ 550,000 |
| 6 | Lieutenant Colonel | ₦ 350,000 |
| 7 | Major | ₦ 300,000 |
| 8 | Captain | ₦ 200,000 |
| 9 | Lieutenant | ₦ 180,000 |
| 10 | Second Lieutenant | ₦ 120,000 |
