President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to donate all his salaries since assuming office in May 2023 to a newly created welfare fund for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and their families.
The President made the announcement in a personally signed statement on Sunday as he marked his 74th birthday, describing the gesture as a commitment to honour the sacrifices of military personnel.
According to him, he has directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to establish a dedicated account that will serve as a support fund for wounded soldiers, as well as the families of fallen heroes.
Tinubu explained that the fund would provide direct assistance to injured service members and to widows, widowers, and children of those who lost their lives in the line of duty. He emphasized that his salary contributions would serve as the seed funding for the initiative, regardless of existing welfare and insurance schemes already in place for the armed forces.
The President also called on governors, lawmakers, private sector stakeholders, and well-meaning Nigerians to support the initiative, stressing that caring for military personnel and their families is a shared national responsibility.
“This is not charity, but a duty we owe to those who risk their lives for the peace and security of our nation,” he stated.
The announcement builds on Tinubu’s continued support for the armed forces.
In December 2025, he launched the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem and appeal fund at the State House in Abuja, where he donated ₦200 million out of the ₦320 million raised. He also introduced the “Thank a Soldier” digital platform and unveiled a Ministry of Defence initiative aimed at deploying retired military personnel to secure ungoverned areas.
