Morning recap: Tinubu approves pay rise for 250,000 troops, doctors suspend strike after Presidency brokers truce, other top stories
August 5, 2026 7:09 am
File: President Bola Tinubu.
Nigeria’s soldiers are waking up to their biggest pay rise in years, as President Tinubu approves salary increases of up to 80 per cent for 250,000 troops.
Resident doctors who had threatened to shut down hospitals from August 10 are standing down after a late-night Presidential Villa meeting secured firm government commitments.
The military is now offering South-East gunmen a way out, surrender or face intensified operations.
Social media is watching as police summon VeryDarkMan while simultaneously grilling the Assistant Inspector-General of Police he accused of corruption.
The fake agency probe takes a dramatic turn as lawmakers prepare to question the controversial PFIPC director-general in an undisclosed location.
Nearly N2.5tn has been set aside for roads, but economists are asking whether any of it will actually be spent.
And a LASU graduate preparing for NYSC is in hospital, shot by robbers who came for someone else entirely.
Here is a recap of the major stories making headlines this morning
1. Military salaries hit N924bn as Tinubu approves pay rise
Junior soldiers stand to gain the most from a new 30 to 80 per cent salary increase approved by President Tinubu for about 250,000 Armed Forces personnel.
The new structure, effective September 1, raises the military’s annual wage bill from N660bn to N924bn. Serving personnel say they will reserve judgment until the figures hit their accounts.
Read Here: https://punchng.com/military-salaries-hit-n924bn-as-tinubu-approves-pay-rise/
2. DHQ reopens surrender window for S’East gunmen
The Defence Headquarters has extended its surrender policy to armed groups in the South-East, South-South and South-West; a window previously reserved for northern insurgents and bandits.
There is no deadline, but the military warns that kinetic operations will intensify regardless.
Read Here: https://punchng.com/dhq-reopens-surrender-window-for-seast-gunmen/
3. Police summon VeryDarkMan, quiz AIG over allegations
The police have formally invited VeryDarkMan to substantiate corruption allegations he made publicly against AIG Moshood Jimoh of Zone 2, Lagos, warning that unproven claims could attract legal consequences. The AIG has also been called in for questioning.
Read Here: https://punchng.com/police-summon-verydarkman-quiz-aig-over-allegations/
4. Fake agency probe: Reps to grill controversial DG at undisclosed location
The House committee will question PFIPC’s purported director-general, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, at a secret location to protect ongoing EFCC and ICPC investigations.
Meanwhile, a businessman told the panel he paid Adeyemi N400m for a contract that never materialised, convinced by official-looking trappings that the agency was real.
Read Here: https://punchng.com/fake-agency-probe-reps-to-grill-controversial-dg-at-undisclosed-location/
5. FG votes N2.5tn for Abuja-Lokoja, Enugu-PH, 122 roads
The Federal Government has earmarked N2.47tn for 124 road projects in the 2026 budget, targeting key corridors from Kano-Katsina to Enugu-Port Harcourt.
Economists are sceptical as the 2025 budget is still being implemented.
Read Here: https://punchng.com/fg-votes-n2-5tn-for-abuja-lokoja-enugu-ph-122-roads/
6. Robbers shoot LASU graduate during attack on PoS operator
A LASU fresh graduate preparing for NYSC was shot by armed robbers who opened fire indiscriminately after failing to locate a PoS operator they had trailed to her Igando, Lagos home. He is currently fighting for his life.
Read Here: https://punchng.com/robbers-shoot-lasu-graduate-during-attack-on-pos-operator/
7. Doctors suspend strike as Presidency brokers truce
Resident doctors are set to call off their August 10 strike after Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila locked them in a three-hour meeting with key ministers and extracted firm commitments on salary arrears, allowances and hospital security. A formal announcement awaits the association’s NEC ratification.
Read Here: https://punchng.com/doctors-suspend-strike-as-presidency-brokers-truce/
Fawzi is a journalist and subeditor covering a wide range of beats including politics, metro, and international news, among others. He also optimises stories for digital audiences.
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