Nigerian Navy Ranks and Salary Structure [2024 Updated]

This article contains everything you need to know about the current Nigerian Navy ranks and salaries.

If you want to join the force, It’s important to understand and know the different Navy ranks and their salary structure. But before we look at the Nigeria Navy Salary, here is an overview of what the forces do.

Overview of the Nigerian Navy Force

The Nigeria Navy (NN) is the Marine arm of the Nigeria Armed Forces. They are saddled with the responsibility of protecting the Nigeria water territory. The Nigerian Navy was established in 1914 and was previously referred to as Nigerian Marine. The force was trained by the Royal Navy Officer before it was renamed to Nigerian Naval Force.

Nigerian Navy Ranks and Salary Structure

Also, the Nigerian Navy is considered the largest in West Africa in terms of its workforce and technicality. The Navy is structured by command into 9 branches, 5 commands, and several units. The Navy force headquarters command is located in Abuja with other operational commands in Bayelsa, Calabar, and Lagos state.

Below are the locations of the 5 commands of the Navy Force.

Western Naval Command in Soaps, Lagos state.
Central Naval Command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
Eastern Naval Command is located in Calabar.
Training located in Apapa, Lagos state.
Logistics Commands located at Oghara

Functions of the Nigerian Navy Force

With the alliance of NIMASA, the force has the responsibility of protecting the water territories. This is including the Guinea of Gulf from any related crimes.

Some of their functions include;

Administration of ports and harbors with the Nigerian territory
Enforcing rules concerning Fisheries, Immigration, pollution, and so on
Defending the Nigerian Seas and Other Water Territories
Operation of ferrying services
Dredging of channels
Implementing all Maritime Laws whether National or International on the water territory

Current Nigerian Navy Ranks and Salaries

The highest rank in the navy is currently the Chief of Naval Staff. It’s the chief of Naval staff that oversees all the affairs and activities of the Navy force. Also, the chief of staff is responsible and accountable to the Commander-in-Chief. The current chief of staff is Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

There is also a unique Salary Structure in the Nigerian Navy for Naval officers serving in the force. This is similar to the Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS) for the Nigerian Police Force and Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS) for University lecturers.

Just like in other professions, the Nigerian navy’s salary and rank are proportional. This means the salary of the Nigerian navy officer increase as the officer’s rank increases. When officers get promoted as they serve in the Navy, their promotion is usually sequential (from a particular rank to the next). Sometimes, it can also be exponential (skipping of one or more ranks to promote an officer to a higher rank).

Furthermore, the Nigerian navy ranks and salary structure depend on two categories. The Naval officers in the force can either be commissioned or non-commissioned.

1. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

Some of the Commissioned officers of the Nigerian Navy are graduates of the Nigeria Defense Academy, Kaduna. While some are University graduates or shortlisted from the Direct short service commission.

These officers earn a better salary than the Non-commissioned officers. Also, they are mostly found at the top scale of the Nigerian Navy salary. Their roles majorly are to make decisions and lead others.

There are twelve ranks within the commissioned cadre. Starting from the least which is the Mid-shipman to the topmost which is the Admiral of the fleet. New graduates from the Nigeria Defense Academy and other intakes start as Mid-shipmen. They continue to climb up the ladder to the topmost level which is the Admiral of the fleet.

Below is the list of the ranks in the commissioned cadre according to the Nigerian Navy ranks and salary scale.

i. Mid-Shipman – ₦118,835 monthly, ₦1,426,020 annually

ii. Acting Sub-Lieutenant – ₦130,852 monthly, ₦1,570,224 annually

iii. Sub-Lieutenant – ₦150,625 monthly, ₦1,807,500 annually

iv. Lieutenant – ₦195,685 monthly, ₦2,348,220 annually

v. Lieutenant Commander – ₦230,652 monthly, ₦2,767,500 annually

vi. Commander – ₦281,673 monthly, ₦3,380,076 annually

vii. Captain – ₦309,654 monthly, ₦3,715,848 annually

viii. Commodorel – ₦615, 484 monthly, ₦7,385,898 annually

ix. Rear Admiral – ₦1,003,245 monthly, ₦12,038,940 annually

x. Vice-Admiral – ₦1,113,602 monthly, ₦13,363,224 annually

xi. Admiral – ₦1,358,595 monthly, ₦16,303,540 annually

xii. Admiral of the Fleet – Not fixed due to political reasons

2. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

These categories of officers are those recruited from the usual advertised recruitment exercise of the Nigerian Navy. They are at the base of the ladder in the hierarchy of the Nigerian Navy.

According to the Nigerian Navy ranks and salary structure, their salaries are less compared to the Commissioned officers. Even though, their salaries also increase as their ranks increase.

Below is the salary structure of Nigeria’s navy non-commissioned officers in ascending order.

i. Trainee – Trainee is not paid until they finish their training. They get paid only after being, promoted, enlisted, and when they became a Naval officer.

ii. Ordinary Rating – ₦45,854 monthly, ₦550,140 annually

iii. Able Rating – ₦50,855 monthly, ₦610,260 annually

iv. Leading Rating – ₦70,855 monthly, ₦850,260 annually

v. Petty Officer – ₦80,852 monthly, ₦970,224 annually

vi. Chief Petty Officer – ₦90,825 monthly, ₦1,089,900 annually

vii. Warrant Chief Petty Officer – ₦120,853 monthly, ₦1,450,236 annually

More on Nigerian Navy Ranks and Salary

With the above-listed salary of the Nigerian Navy, we can say the Navy Force is one of the high-paying government agencies in Nigeria.
Note: Apart from these salaries, naval officers get other benefits and emoluments such as travel allowances, especially when deployed on special assignments.

What is your take on the current Nigerian Navy ranks and salary?