PDP Urges Improved Pay for Security Forces

In a powerful appeal marking the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the Federal Government to overhaul the welfare and compensation structures for Nigeria’s security personnel. The nation’s main opposition party argues that the current financial and logistical support provided to the men and women in uniform is insufficient given the escalating risks they face in the line of duty.

The statement, issued on Thursday by the PDP National Chairman, Kabiru Taminu Turaki, served as both a tribute to fallen heroes and a critique of the administrative handling of the security sector. Turaki noted that while the nation gathers annually to lay wreaths and offer prayers, the most meaningful way to honor the dead is to properly care for the living who continue to stand on the front lines.

The PDP’s demand comes at a time of significant national reflection on the human cost of maintaining Nigeria’s territorial integrity. According to the party, many members of the Armed Forces have made the supreme sacrifice while battling insurgency, banditry, and secessionist threats. Turaki emphasized that these deaths should not merely be statistics but a catalyst for systemic change in how the state treats its defenders.

Central to the PDP’s message is a call for a comprehensive review of welfare packages. This goes beyond basic salaries to include the broader security and intelligence community, which the party says is often overlooked in public discourse. The opposition insists that enhanced pay and benefits are not just a matter of fairness, but a strategic necessity to boost morale and operational effectiveness.

The party also highlighted a perceived gap in the funding of security agencies. Turaki urged the Federal Government to ensure that the military and intelligence services are adequately resourced to neutralize agents of insecurity. For the PDP, the persistent nature of Nigeria’s security challenges suggests that the current funding model may be failing to provide the sophisticated tools and training required for modern warfare.

In a poignant segment of the statement, the PDP extended its deepest condolences to the families of those who have died in active service. The loss of a breadwinner in the military often leaves families in a precarious financial state, a reality the party believes can only be addressed through robust institutional support and prompt payment of death benefits.

The statement further addressed the broader political and social climate, advising both state and non-state actors to refrain from any actions that could destabilize the nation. By linking the stability of the country to the sacrifices of the military, the PDP framed national unity as a debt owed to those who have fallen in the green and white uniform.

Turaki’s remarks also touched on the need for transparency in how security budgets are managed. The opposition maintains that for the security forces to be truly effective, the funds allocated for their welfare and equipment must reach the intended beneficiaries without being diverted by administrative bottlenecks or corrupt practices.

The 2026 Remembrance Day ceremony, which traditionally features the symbolic laying of wreaths by the President and top government officials, was described by the PDP as a moment that should trigger “renewed trust” between the government and the military. The party argued that the “labors of our heroes past” will only truly be remembered if their successors are given the dignity and financial security they deserve.

The call for better pay also resonates with a growing public sentiment that the rank-and-file of the Nigerian police and army are under-compensated relative to the high-pressure environments they inhabit. Social commentators have often pointed out the disparity between the lifestyle of high-ranking political officials and the austere conditions faced by soldiers in theater operations.

As the government evaluates its fiscal priorities for the coming year, the PDP is positioning the welfare of security forces as a primary litmus test for the administration’s commitment to national peace. The party insists that a well-paid, well-fed, and well-equipped soldier is the most effective deterrent against the “mayhem” currently threatening various parts of the federation.

The statement concluded with a prayer that the sacrifices of the fallen would not be in vain. For the PDP, the path to ensuring this lies in a deliberate policy shift that prioritizes the human element of the security architecture. The party’s stance sets the stage for a legislative and public debate on the 2026 security budget, with an emphasis on “people-centered” military spending.

Ultimately, the PDP is calling for a move away from symbolic gestures toward a more tangible form of gratitude. By demanding better pay and better funding, the opposition is challenging the status quo, arguing that the true measure of a nation’s respect for its military is found in the payroll, not just the parade.