Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has denied reports that he asked Nigerian soldiers to reject the salary increase recently approved by President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Obi described the report as false, urging Nigerians to disregard the claim.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, he said he had never called on members of the armed forces to reject any salary increase pending the 2027 elections.
“This assertion is entirely untrue,” Mr Obi said.
President Tinubu recently approved salary increases of between 30% and 80% for personnel of the armed forces, with the new rates due to take effect from 1 September 2026.
The increase is expected to affect about 250,000 military personnel and raise the annual salary bill for the armed forces from ₦660bn to ₦924bn, according to the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Mr Obi said his comments concerning the military had instead focused on the welfare, safety, equipment and protection of security personnel.
He reaffirmed his respect for members of the armed forces, particularly soldiers serving in difficult and dangerous conditions.
He also referred to an incident in which soldiers were killed by insurgents, saying the episode had raised concerns about the adequacy of support and protection available to troops during military operations.
According to Mr Obi, the welfare and safety of security personnel would remain a priority should he be elected president.
He said Nigerian soldiers deserved “utmost respect” and a government that would stand firmly behind them.
Mr Obi subsequently urged Nigerians to dismiss the report linking him to a call for soldiers to reject the salary increase, describing it as misleading.
