President Bola Tinubu has approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 percent for Nigeria’s armed forces personnel.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President(Information and Strategy), disclosed this on Tuesday, emphasising that about 250,000 personnel are to benefit from the new deal.

According to the statement, under the new arrangement, which becomes effective from September 1, officers above the rank of colonel will enjoy a 30 percent salary increase.

This applies to Brigadier-Generals, Major-Generals, Lieutenant Generals and Generals.

Personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will have a 50 percent increase, while Private to Staff Sergeant will have an 80 percent increase.

The pay package will increase the yearly salary bill for the country’s armed forces personnel from N660 billion to N924 billion.

President Tinubu has always praised the courage and sacrifices of members of the armed forces as they confront the scourge of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in some parts of the country.

“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation.

“Our administration will continue to prioritise troop welfare and modernise the armed forces by providing the weapons and technological tools needed to discharge their duties.

“Our administration believes that no nation can achieve greatness without security. We therefore remain resolute in mobilising all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.

“ I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland. Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation”.

The Federal Ministry of Education has established a full-fledged Safe Schools Department to provide strategic leadership, coordination and oversight of school safety programmes nationwide.

The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Safe Schools Initiative.

Alausa said that the new department would provide stronger institutional leadership and coordination for school safety programmes nationwide.

According to him, the department replaces the former Safe Schools Unit and would be responsible for strategic leadership, coordination and oversight of school safety initiatives across Nigeria.

He explained that the ministry would coordinate the Safe Schools Initiative through a unified national framework designed to improve implementation, accountability and monitoring across the country’s 774 local government areas.

He disclosed that the ministry is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services, Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other relevant agencies to strengthen protection around schools.

The Education Minister, Tunji Alausa, has ordered the dismissal of any student found culpable of kidnapping in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Tunji Alausa, gave the directive during a meeting with the Governing Council of the Federal University of Lafia in Abuja.

He directed Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts to strengthen internal intelligence and work closely with the DSS and other security agencies to safeguard campuses.

He said that the move is part of efforts to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative, following recent isolated cases involving students outside campuses.