Do you want to know how much a Nigerian Air Force officer receives every month as salary?
Well, this article features the Nigerian Air Force ranks and salary structure. Here you also will find the exact amount of money the Nigerian Airforce officers are paid, from the highest-ranked officers to the lowest-ranked officers.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is one of the largest and the most disciplined military organizations in Africa as a whole.
With over 10,000 officials, 12 Chinese Chengdu F-7s, 11 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, 12 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tacano, military transport planes, armed helicopters, and highly sophisticated ammunition, the Force has established themselves among those to be counted upon at any time they are needed.
The Nigerian Air Force began its full operation on the 18th of April, 1964, almost four years after her independence. Before that moment, the country had depended on the United Kingdom for its air defense.
In 1962, several pilots from Nigeria were sent to different countries within and outside Africa for training. One of such countries is Egypt whose own Air Force as at that time was already in operation.
After some time, about 10 of those sent to the Egyptian’s Air Force for training, successfully graduated and returned home to Nigeria.
From 1964 when the National Assembly passed the Air Force act and they began operation, the Force has witnessed lots of transformation to arrive at the point it is today.
Talking about the ranks and the salary structure of the NAF, it is worth mentioning that there is a fixed structure that is put in place in the force. That is what determines what each employee of the NAF receives monthly as a salary.
The ranks and salary structure is known as the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS). It is what determines the salaries of all the armed forces in Nigeria: Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Just like the Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS) determines that of the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service and Customs.
Below you will find a list of all the ranks in NAF, from the highest to the lowest, followed by their salaries.
Nigerian Air Force Ranks For Commissioned Officers
- Air Chief Marshal
- Air Marshal
- Air Vice-Marshal
- Air Commodore
- Group Captain
- Wing Commander
- Squadron Leader
- Flight Lieutenant
- Flying Officer
Nigerian Air Force Ranks For Non-Commissioned Officers
- Pilot Officer
- Air Warrant Officer
- Master Warrant Officer
- Warrant Officer
- Flight Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Lance Corporal
- Aircraftman/woman
Nigerian Air Force Salary Structure
Below is a detailed breakdown of what every officer in the Nigerian Air Force earns as salary monthly.
Monthly Salary Of Commissioned Officers
- Air Chief Marshal – ₦1,724,283
- Air Marshal – ₦1,486,451
- Air Vice-Marshal – ₦1,376,343
- Air Commodore – ₦677,895
- Group Captain – ₦352,631
- Wing Commander –
- Squadron Leader – ₦248,004
- Flight Lieutenant – ₦232,484
- Flying Officer – ₦218,400
Monthly Salary Of Non Commissioned Officers
- Pilot Officer – ₦187,159
- Air Warrant Officer – ₦218,400
- Master Warrant Officer – ₦165,697
- Warrant Officer – ₦101,974
- Flight Sergeant – ₦87,119
- Sergeant – ₦69,261
- Corporal – ₦58,634
- Lance Corporal – ₦55,892
- Aircraftman/woman – ₦53,892
- Traniee/Cadet – ₦44,564
Ranks In The Nigerian Air Force Explained
1) Air Chief Marshal
Also called “Chief Air Marshal” or “Chief of the Air Staff”, the person occupying this position is the lead adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on air-related defense matters.
Just like the president, he is also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, the Minister of Defence, and the Chief of Defence Staff on matters that have to do with air defense.
He is in charge of establishing long and short-term mission objectives, articulating policies, ensuring that plans are carried out for the attainment of peace and order.
He works for hand in with the Navy Admiral and Army General to carry out joint operational policies and plans.
With the help of those working under him, he makes sure that the country is not lagging when it comes to air defense.
An Air Chief Marshal in the Nigerian AirForce goes home with a salary of N1,724,283 monthly.
2) Air Marshal
The Air Marshal in NAF works hand in hand with the Air Vice Marshal to control and organize the activities of other junior officers.
He is also involved in the day to day planning and running of the Force. He reports directly to the Air Chief Marshal on issues bothering around air defense.
For the Nigerian Air Marshal, his monthly salary is N1,486,451. He is the equivalent of a Lieutenant General in the Army.
3) Air Vice-Marshal
The Air Vice-Marshal is a two-star officer rank. He is the equivalent of what is known as Major-General in the Army and Rear Admiral in Navy.
He works hand in hand with the Air Marshal and reports directly to him.
In Nigeria, the Air Vice-Marshal is paid a monthly salary of N1,376,343.
4) Air Commodore
The NAF Air Commodore is the most junior general of the air force.
He is a one-star rank officer and controls the activities of those below him. The “general” report directly to the Air Vice-Marshal.
His monthly payment in Nigeria is N677,895.
5) Group Captain
The equivalent of a Colonel in the Army, the Group Captain abbreviated as GP Capt, is a senior commissioned rank in the Nigerian Air Force. He reports directly to the Air Commodore.
The NAF Group Captain’s monthly payment is N352,631
6) Wing Commander
The Wing Commander is also a senior commissioned rank in NAF.
The person occupying this position is equivalent to the Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army.
He oversees the activities of those directly under him.
7) Squadron Leader
This is also a commissioned rank in the NAF. The rank is equivalent to a Major in the Nigerian Army.
He controls several things in NAF and reports directly to the Wing Commander.
At the end of every month, the Squadron Leader in NAF gets a base salary of N248,004.
8) Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Nigeria Air Force. The rank is equivalent to a Captain in the Nigerian Army.
The person occupying this position is in charge of several things and reports directly to the Squadron Leader.
In NAF, the Flight Lieutenant receives a monthly payment of about N232,484.
9) Flying Officer
The flying Officer is also a junior commissioned rank in the NAF. The rank is equivalent to that of a Lieutenant in the Army.
A Flying Officer is in charge of those directly under him and takes home a minimum of N218,400 as his salary every month.
10) Pilot Officer
The Pilot Officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the NAF. The rank is the equivalent of a Second-Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.
Whoever occupies this position is paid a minimum of N187,159 monthly.
11) Air Warrant Officer
This particular military officer is designated an officer by a warrant, often by seniority. He is a non-commissioned officer unlike the first ten above him.
In Nigeria, Air Warrant Officers are paid N171,793 per month.
12) Master Warrant Officer
The Master Warrant Officer is also a non-commissioned senior military officer in the Nigeria Air Force. He is paid a minimum of N165,697 every month as a salary.
13) Warrant Officer
This is also an officer by a warrant in the NAF. They are among the non-commissioned military officers. The equivalent of this rank in the army is the Sergeant.
Every month in Nigeria, the NAF warrant Officer takes home about N101,974 as his monthly payment.
14) Flight Sergeant
The Flight Sergeant is also a senior non-commissioned officer in the NAF.
The rank is the equivalent of a colored Sergeant in the Nigerian Army.
The Flight Sergeant is paid about N87,119 every month as a salary.
15) Sergeant
Like the Flight Sergeant, the Sergeant is also a non-commissioned rank in the NAF.
The person in this office in the NAF receives about N69,261 as his monthly payment.
16) Corporal
The Corporal also referred to as Corporal or Bombadier in the military, is another non-commissioned officer that is in charge of a few things and reports directly to the Sergeant.
NAF pays whoever occupies this position a minimum of N58,634 monthly.
17) Lance Corporal
The Lance Corporal is the second-in-command of a section. He is next to the Corporal and also a non-commissioned officer of the military.
In the NAF, the Lance Corporal gets N55,892 as his monthly salary while serving his country.
18) Aircraftman/woman
The Aircraftman/woman is the second to the lowest position in the NAF.
The military officer receives about N53,892 as salary.
19) Trainee (Cadet)
This is a person who just got into the Nigerian Air Force to serve his country. He is paid about N44,564.
Final Words On Nigerian Airforce Ranks & Salaries
The Nigerian Air Force officials are paid salaries based on their rank using the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).
From the Air Chief Marshal to the Pilot Officer are referred to as commissioned ranks. They are paid higher amounts of salaries compared to the non-commissioned ranks. (from Air Warrant officer down).
The higher you ascend in your rank in the Air Force, the higher salary you will be paid.
Also if you are joining the Force as a graduate or with a good certificate, you stand the chance of climbing the ladder very fast up to a very good position where you will be comfortably paid.
Over the years, people have always argued which force pays higher: the army, air force, or navy.
Looking at the salary structure and ranks of these forces, one can see that the Air Force is either the highest paying force in Nigeria or the second-highest.
So if you are searching for the highest paying force or the salary and rank structure of the Nigerian Air Force, I hope you find the breakdown or answers in this article useful.
