The brewing controversy between political economist Professor Pat Utomi and those he describes as President Bola Tinubu’s “Data Boys” has drawn fresh attention to the nature of political communication in Nigeria on the one hand, but much more, how governments and its supporters perceive criticism.
Pat Utomi, renowned economist, political party chieftain and education entrepreneur, had on October 25, 2026, said he would not engage people he described as APC “data boys” who had reacted to his earlier comments about the welfare of Nigerian soldiers.
How did the latest latest confrontation start?
The background is the show by All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, that creates a story around. Dayo Israel was showing off brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs he said were presented to selected youth leaders of the party to support election mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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“Today, I presented brand new 2026 Prado to my committed selected youth leaders to aid their election mobilisation activities,” Israel had written, expressing gratitude to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for what he described as her continued support for the party’s structure under his leadership, he added:
“The party is supreme and that supremacy will show in our action in this election period — we will deliver polling unit by polling unit”, he added.
Reacting to post against the backdrop of some current realities, Professor Itomi decided to react.
In an X post on Sunday, Utomi stated: “Nigerian soldiers are being paid peanuts as salaries, yet an APC youth leader is flaunting SUVs worth billions of naira.
“This is the same government that told Nigerians there was no longer money in the treasury. At this point, they must think we are fools!”
He followed up in another post, questioning whether the money spent on the vehicles could have been put to better use, particularly in the health sector.
“Each of the SUVs in this video costs more than ₦100 million. I wonder how many world-class ambulances the millions being spent on these vehicles could buy. What a pity!” he wrote.
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This promptly attracted a response from, a Facebook user, who signed in as Kay Lord. Beginning with uncomplimentary remarks on Utomi, he then stated:
“Nobody is disputing the sacrifices of Nigerian soldiers or the need to pay them better.
“They risk their lives fighting terrorists, bandits and insurgents, and their welfare deserves serious attention. But if you want to argue that their salaries are inadequate, present the actual pay structure, allowances, benefits, purchasing power and the government’s capacity to improve their remuneration.
“Make a serious economic argument. Don’t dress up a crude currency conversion as evidence of bad leadership and expect people to applaud your brilliance. The fact that someone can compare two figures does not mean they understand what those figures represent. That is the difference between genuine analysis and political propaganda”.
In fact, he didn’t remark once, but doubleed up on his scatting criticism of Utomi that saw many more such comments trailing.
For Professor Utomi, all those brickbats couldn’t be coming from anywhere else, but those whose profile he had examined and concluded were APC supporters operating as political “data boys.”, hence his use of the expression.
Interrogating The Data Boys Expression
The peculiarity of the Nigerian political environment and culture is not in question. Truth can sometimes be sacrificed at the altar of political patriotism or pecuniary benefits .
The expression “Data Boys” is better understood in this context. There is a perceived rise in an army of social media users who, not necessarily trained communicators nor informed professionals, take to selfish promotion of politicians or courses online, sometimes in exchange for money, internet-data stipends or other benefits.
They are usually strident at tarnishing well-gained reputations, or canvassing ideas that are quite against “the common good”.
Nevertheless, the question of whether or not Nigerian soldiers are well paid, is an issue that deserves interrogation.
What are the real issues behind the confrontation?
There are four substantive questions beneath the online argument.
1: The welfare of Nigerian soldiers
Utomi’s immediate concern was whether soldiers who undertake dangerous duties receive adequate pay and decent living and working conditions.
This is a public-policy question that can be examined through official salary structures, allowances, welfare provisions and budget allocations—not just social-media arguments
Being not just a politician but also a public policy analyst, gives Processor sufficient qualifications to comment on the matter
2. Political parties have legitimate reasons to communicate their policies and defend their records.
That would be welcome of APC, armed with facts and figures.
The concern arises when sponsored advocacy is disguised as independent reporting, or when misleading claims are circulated as facts.
There is evidence that salaries of public servants, especially those on critical national assignments could be better. This does not also imply that the situation of low salary was created by the current administration.
3: Political spending and public accountability
Utomi’s comments raise a broader question about the priorities of public officeholders compared with the needs of military personnel and ordinary citizens. Determining whether his comparisons are accurate requires examining the relevant remuneration figures and public expenditure records.
Are Nigerian soldiers paid well?
Whereas, it may not be easy on the short run to obtain accurate statistics of soldiers salaries, certain recent remarks on the subject matter can give us a lead
In February 2025, the Chief of Army Staff announced an increase in troops’ daily, including Ration Cash Allowance from ₦1,500 to ₦3,000, on the back of concerns about the amount available for feeding.
On September 24, 2025, Sahara Reporters carried a report on Nigerian soldiers complaining about poor salary:
Are Nigerian Soldiers Well Paid?
“We the junior ranks of the Nigerian Army which the military authorities deliberately changed our status to the so-called ‘Other Ranks” are calling on President Bola Tinubu to directly handle our welfare and wages,” one of the soldiers said.
“Because we are also citizens of the Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu should please let the presidency handle our salaries and allowances, because most of these salaries and allowances are not fully paid, especially the Scarce Skills allowances which is N100,000 for the ranks.
“However the Army Generals do embezzle the money to their personal accounts. They are paying the junior ranks N20,000 instead of 100,000 approved by the Nigerian government. This has been happening since 2017 that it was fully implemented by Federal Government.
“We are appealing to Mr President Bola Tinubu to please rescue the junior soldiers from these corrupt Generals.
” This is one of the reasons why soldiers at war zones and other conflict areas are being defeated. Because their morale as soldiers has been devastated by the Army Chief and his Generals.
The Chief of Army lacks integrity in handling our allowances. He deviated our Scarce Skills allowances to his personal account.”
The report quoted another soldier thus:
“We buy military kits with the little salaries we receive. Uniforms, boots, mosquito nets, almost everything, as soldiers, we can no longer feed our family for complete thirty days with what we earn.
“School fees is beyond our power. Mr President should come to our rescue, our Army Generals are diverting our salaries and allowance.
“Our operational allowance also needs to be increased from N45,000 to something reasonable to boast our morale, especially those soldiers in the front line.”
“We soldiers are seriously lamenting on the poor salaries and allowances, I swear to Almighty Allah, I bought desert uniform N40,000 personally, I also bought boot, fairly used for N35,000 few months ago. So I can look very smart and neat before my colleagues sir. Things are failing apart in the system completely,” another soldier added
Last April 2026, a former soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, popularly known as “Soja Boi,” alleged that military pay was inadequate. The Nigerian Army disputed his claims and said remuneration depends on rank and years of service, with additional allowances for eligible personnel.
Feeding and ration allowances,
Housing, medical care and family support
Welfare discussions have also included barracks accommodation, healthcare, insurance, benefits for injured personnel and support for the families of deceased soldiers.
A Legit blog report of 6 April states thus:
“Poor pay, we troops decry struggle with poor pay, we troops decry struggle with multiple loans and an unending cycle of debts.”
According to the blog, “A dismissed Nigerian ex-soldier, who once went viral for urging politicians to let their children join the military, has now made a shocking confession about the harsh realities of life in service”.
He revealed that soldiers endure poor pay, limited support, and are even forced to buy their own uniforms, boots, and protective gear out of pocket, despite the dangerous conditions they face His account of spending nearly five years in Maiduguri without proper rotation has reignited public concern about the welfare, treatment, and sacrifices of frontline soldiers in Nigeria!
“The last salary I collected as an ex-army before I was dismissed was ₦109,000. Before then, it was just last year February they increased it; it was ₦51,000 then, attached with the SACRS skill that they pay ₦20,000, making ₦71,000.” He explained that despite the slight increase, the pay was still inadequate
What Has the Tinubu government Done? There have been announced pay and allowance changes, alongside official responses disputing some allegations.
For example, a Guardian Newspaper editorial of August 8, 2026, reported that the Federal Government had raised the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000.
The editorial argued however that improved pay should be accompanied by broader welfare reforms.
Also, in January 2026, the Army said it was pursuing improvements involving allowances, accommodation, medical care and insurance for personnel and their families.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, in July said the Federal Government has increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000 .
“When they started, a soldier was collecting N49,000 monthly. We tried so hard; now he’s collecting N100,000,” he said.
Are Utomi’s Assertions justified
Yes, if informed by genuine concern, and going by his antecedents as a public policy commentators.
All that is needed to checkmate him is a detailed account of government’s incentives towards improved welfare for the military.
Dear reader, what is your perspective on this controversy? We would be glad to see and publish it
-Editor
Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer
He has worked with the Daily Times, Daily Independent, Financial Standard and Business Television to mention some.
His ongoing Corporate Communications Master Class training series equips learners with credible hands-on skills for effective Media Relations, Public Communications & Corporate Affairs amongst others.
He can be contacted via 09165809519 or 08180335778.