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Renowned businessman and social commentator, Isaac Fayose, has ignited discussions online by drawing attention to the disparity in military salaries between South Africa and Nigeria. He pointed out what he perceives as a considerable wage gap between the two nations.
In a social media video that has gained traction, Fayose asserted that South African soldiers enjoy significantly higher monthly incomes compared to their Nigerian counterparts, who receive much lower annual compensation despite being part of the same continent.
“In South Africa, the minimum salary for a soldier is ₦2 million per month, while in Nigeria, soldiers, naval officers, and police earn ₦2 million per year. This is all within Africa. This discrepancy is why Nigerian soldiers act the way they do,” Fayose remarked.
He emphasized that this pay imbalance negatively impacts the morale and effectiveness of Nigeria’s security forces, suggesting that inadequate compensation contributes to undesirable behavior among the ranks.
Recently, these issues were highlighted by a former soldier known as ‘Soja Boy.’ He made headlines after being dismissed for urging politicians to deploy their children to the front lines, revealing startling insights into the military’s challenges.
He spoke about alleged unfair treatment within the Nigerian military, claiming personnel earn about ₦109,000 monthly, an amount he said was recently increased from ₦71,000.
Fayose’s comments have since reignited debates around military welfare, national security funding, and the treatment of security personnel across Africa, with many Nigerians sharing mixed reactions online.
Watch the video below…
In South Africa 🇿🇦, Army salary is minimum 2 million naira per month but in Nigeria 🇳🇬 security forces officers earn 2 million per year.
~ Isaac Fayose says pic.twitter.com/H6ULB5XvuQ
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) April 12, 2026