NIGERIAN NAVY RANK AND SALARY
In Nigeria, the navy was created in 1958 from the defunct Nigerian Marine Department, originally formed in 1914 after the merger of the northern and southern nigerian marine detachments. The ‘northern’ and ‘southern’ marine detachments originated from the British Mercantile Marine – the armed merchant ships of British shipping and trading companies of the nineteenth century, which in collaboration with the Royal navy, helped to colonize Nigeria. In 1922, King George V changed the name of the British Merchant Service to the Merchant Navy, in recognition of its role in World War 1.
Until about four or so years ago when the Nigerian Armed Forces harmonized its rank structure, enlisted Nigerian naval seamen were ranked, in ascending order, as follows:
- Ordinary Seaman
- Able Seaman
- Leading Seaman
- Petty Officer
- Chief Petty Officer
- Warrant Petty Officer
In contrast, the modern Royal Navy has no “Ordinary Seaman” or “rating” or “rate.” Nevertheless, historically, there used to be such a rank, equivalent to ‘Able’ rating until it was phased out. The following enlisted ranks currently exist in the RN:
- Able Rate (Private)
- Leading Rate (Corporal)
- Petty Officer (Sergeant)
- Chief Petty Officer (Staff Sergeant)
- Warrant Officer (Warrant Officer, Class 1)
On the other hand, the present ‘harmonized’ NN rank structure (from bottom up) is as follows (according to an official source):
Ratings
- [Trainee] (Seaman Recruit in US parlance)
- Ordinary Seaman
- Seaman
- Able Seaman
- Leading Seaman
- Petty Officer
- Warrant Officer
- Master Warrant Officer
- Navy Warrant Officer
Officers
- Midshipman
- Sub Lieutenant
- Lieutenant
- Lieutenant Commander
- Commander
- Captain
- Commodore
- Rear Admiral
- Vice Admiral
- Admiral
- Admiral of the Fleet
The categories and ranks of the Navy, with their respective salaries, are thus as follows;
| S/N | CATEGORIES | SALARIES |
| COMMISSIONED OFFICERS | ||
| 1 | Admiral of the Fleet | Yet to be attained |
| 2 | Admiral | N1,358,595 |
| 3 | Vice Admiral | N1,113,602 |
| 4 | Rear Admiral | N1,003,245 |
| 5 | Commodore | N615,488 |
| 6 | Captain | N309,654 |
| 7 | Commander | N281,673 |
Nigerian Navy Perks and Benefits
Just like other armed forces, there are other benefits aside from the monthly salaries paid to naval officers, and these benefits are; travel, stable employment, career growth, improved physique, free healthcare, and unique experience benefits.
Naval Officers Average Salary Structure for vacant positions
Marine Engineer – ₦ 95,000
Naval Engineer – ₦ 229,000
ICT Security Expert – ₦ 79,000
Communicator – ₦ 51,000
Navy Recruit – ₦ 76,000
Let us now examine the historical basis and etymology of the words.
The word Navy dates back to the early part of the 14th century. It derives from the Old French word navie meaning “fleet” or “ship,” from the classical Latin word navigia, which was the plural of of navigium meaning “vessel” or “boat,” from navis meaning “ship.” What is now recognized as Navy blue was the color of the British naval uniform. The word naval came later, reportedly during the early part of the 15th century, derived from the Old French word naval, which comes from the classical Latin word navalis meaning “pertaining to a ship or ships.”
The word Seaman is from an Old English word see-man, meaning someone whose job is out at sea. A Sailor – from the old English word saylor – is one whose job is involved with navigation or sailing. Rate comes from the 15th century French word rare meaning “value.” The french word derives from rata in Latin, meaning “fixed (amount),” from the classical Latin word. rata meaning “fixed, settled.” The use of the word in a verb tense as in “to estimate the worth or value of” began in 1599. In 1649 the Royal navy classified its ships into First-rate, Second-rate, Third-rate etc. on the basis of size and strength. Men were rated according to level of expertise and experience when they signed up for mercantile service. Those who were novices to seafaring were called landsmen. Those with rudimentary experience were called ordinary seamen, while established sailors with knowledge and some experience were called able seamen.
Differences in terminology of lower rung enlisted men (or ratings) between the Royal Navy (RN) and Nigerian Navy (NN) arise in part because of the part mercantile marine heritage of the Nigerian navy. But they also illustrate how the same name can mean different ranks in different countries, depending on policy and establishment. Ranks may seem to reflect the Royal merchant marine (mainly among junior enlisted men) and Royal navy (mainly among senior enlisted men and officers). But while the Royal Merchant marine has the formal entry rank of “apprentice” – derived from the Merchant Shipping Acts of 1823, 1835 and 1876 – the Royal Navy does not. A trainee in the modern NN is equivalent to what used to be known as a ‘Landsman’ in the RN of the 18th century. What might have passed for “apprentice” in the Merchant Marine, however, is now “Ordinary” in the modern Nigerian Navy. “Able” seamen also exist in the NN. To understand the difference between ‘Ordinary’ and ‘Able’ one must go back in time to Merchant Naval (rather than Royal Naval) history. Historically, an ordinary seaman in the merchant marine performed menial tasks like hauling ropes, climbing and manipulating sails, while occasionally taking the wheel. After three years of such apprenticeship he became an able seaman. An able seaman – short for ‘able-bodied, or fully qualified seaman’ not only had to be intimate with every sail and rope, but also was expected to back up the carpenter. The lowest rank in the RN, however, is that of an Able rating which in the NN, is actually a mid-level rate.
The phrase Petty Officer dates back to the Old French word petit which means ‘small’. “Small” or ‘petty’ officials existed in medieval England and were subordinate to more important ‘big’ officials like the Sheriff whom they assisted in rural administration. Against this background, senior officers on ancient British warships, eg the Gunner, Boatswain (in charge of general maintenance), Ship Master, Carpenter, Cook, etc. also had administrative assistants. Such ‘petty’ officials aboard the ships were known to the seamen as ‘petty officers’, reminiscent of petty officers in their rural villages and communes. Initially the ‘petty’ officers, such as mast captains, gunner’s mates, quartermasters, master-at-arms, etc. were temporary appointees of the ship’s Captain. By the 17th century they began to assume more permanent roles but the title did not become an official rank in the Royal Navy until 1808.
Warrant Officer – The phrase ‘Warrant Officer’ consists of two words “warrant” and “officer.” The term ‘Warrant’ is derived from the Old French word warant, which was used to refer to a defence, a protector, a guarantor or an authorization. Back in 1040 some English ports provided warships and crews – such as Master, Boatswain, Carpenter, Cook etc – to King Edward the Confessor. These private contractors were later “warranted” as officers by the British Admiralty (Royal Navy). As standing officers of the navy they were responsible for maintaining and sailing the ships while soldiers – then commanded by Lieutenants and Captains – were taken onboard and kept primarily to do whatever fighting was required, unencumbered by shipboard duties. The seamen considered themselves technocrats and looked down upon the soldiers.
In later centuries new shipboard roles were created and more ‘officers’ were warranted. These included the Purser, Gunner, Surgeon, Chaplain, Master-at-arms, Schoolmaster etc. It is from this naval background that the Army acquired the ranks of ‘Warrant Officer’ as the equivalent of a senior Sergeant or Sergeant Major, particularly for enlisted men who had put in many years of service but were not exactly material for formal commission as “Officers”. Both the Royal and Nigerian Navies have both “Warrant Officer” and “Petty Officer” among enlisted ranks.
In the British military, an Ensign was the lowest rank among commissioned officers in the infantry from the 18th century until 1871 when the rank was abolished and replaced by Second Lieutenant. It is still used as the lowest commissioned officer rank in the navies of some countries eg USA, France. The word derives from the Latin word insignia which means emblem or banner. Any soldier who carried his master’s ensign or flag became known as an ‘Ensign bearer’. Later on it was shortened to ‘Ensign’. For a while an Ensign actually commanded a 500-man body of troops known then as an “ensigne.” None of the Nigerian military services uses this rank.
Midshipman – The term was first written in 1601, and is apparently termed as such because in the earlier days of naval warfare this officer was stationed amidships when on duty. The word, ‘amidships’, which was formalized in 1692, derives from ‘amid’ or ‘amidst’, much older terms that date back to 1391. ‘Amid’ comes from ‘amidde’ which in turn comes from ‘on middan’ meaning “in the middle,” a 12th century word in Old English. Strategically located ‘amidst’ the men, Midshipmen were concerned with assisting Lieutenants control the lower level crew. However, if considered quality material, they could, on occasion, take charge of smaller vessels or captured ships. In modern days it is the lowest rank among commissioned officers in the navies of commonwealth nations, ie Second Lieutenant. However, this correlation is not always precise because in some countries the midshipman may be a pre-second lieutenant cadet (just above the rank of Warrant Officer) while the naval ranks of sub-lieutenant and lieutenant overlap the Army ranks of 2/Lt., Lt., and Captain. This arrangement reflects the days before formal military academies were established. At that time naval officers were trained at sea. A Midshipman under that system was a “cadet-apprentice” at beginning of his training program.
Lieutenant Commander – The rank now known as “Lieutenant Commander” (equivalent to an Army Major) used to be known in the Royal Navy as “Senior Lieutenant” until 1914 when it was changed to Lieutenant Commander. The rank persists in the modern Nigerian navy. (See Navy Captain below)
Commander – The word “Commander” dates back to 1300, and reportedly derives from the Old French word comander meaning “to order” or “to enjoin,” from the Latin word commandare, itself derived from the classical Latin word commendare meaning “to recommend.” Over time its meaning was influenced by another classical Latin word mandare meaning “to commit, entrust” (as in mandate). A ‘commander’ can, therefore, be thought of as having been mandated by the State to give orders to subordinates which they must obey. The military use as a noun began in 1552. But the word “Commander” entered official British naval use in 1674 as the phrase “Master and Commander.” It was used to describe the officer directly under the Sailing Captain. On a smaller warship, however, the “Master and Commander” might well be in full command and could be addressed as “Captain.” Depending on the size of ship, therefore, the Royal navy had up to three grades of Captain – of which the “Master and Commander” was the lowest at that time. In 1794, “Master and Commander” was shortened to “Commander” – a term which remains to this day in the Nigerian navy.
The related word Commandant was documented in 1687, from the older French word Commandment which dates back to about 1280. Another related word, commandeer, dates back to 1881, and reportedly comes from Dutch derived Afrikaans (of South Africa) as in kommandeeren meaning to command for military service. Similarly the word commando is considered of Afrikaans origin, meaning “a troop under a commander.” However, there was a prior usage in Portuguese meaning. “party commanded,” as was the case when the term was used in1809 during the Peninsula campaign. But from 1834, it was used to describe military expeditions (ie commando operations) conducted by Boer settlers against aboriginal inhabitants in South Africa. It re-appeared in the WW2 writings of Winston Churchill (a veteran of the Boer war) as a description of special operations to repel the threat of a German invasion of England.
Navy Captain – Infantry Captains became part of the Royal Navy as far back as the 11th Century. Their role was to command soldiers serving on ships primarily for combat duty, while the ships were operated and commanded by Ship Masters, who had been ‘warranted’ as Officers and were, therefore, known as “Warrant Officers.” Later on, some say as early as the 15th century, Infantry Captains and Lieutenants began assuming shipboard functions. This process was complete by 1747 when they took full command and control of warships. It was at this point that “Captain” became an official Royal naval rank. But, somewhat confusingly, the word ‘Captain’ is also a title. Hence it became tradition to refer to the commander of any ship as ‘Captain’. Indeed, as a courtesy, to this day, even the Lieutenant commanding a small patrol boat is addressed as ‘Captain.’ Historically, it was a very powerful position. A Captain even had the judicial power of life and death over his crew. In 1748 the Royal navy created three grades of Captain, depending on the size and complexity of the ship commanded. The senior grade – so called “Post-Captain” – later became known simply as “Captain” and is equivalent in rank to an Army Colonel. The mid-grade later became “Commander” (equivalent to an Army Lt. Col.) while the lowest grade became “Lieutenant Commander” (equivalent to an Army Major.).
In some navies of the world, Commodore is considered an “appointment” rather than a true rank, while in others it is a rank. Historically a Commodore was basically a Captain appointed temporarily to take charge of a detached naval squadron (including his own ship), for all practical purposes as a “junior Rear Admiral.” In this context he was known originally as Commodore Second Class. If a Captain was awarded flag rank but did not also have to command his own ship he was known as Commodore First Class because he had a Flag Captain under his command. The Royal navy retained the position of “Commodore Second Class”, as “Commodore” while “Commodore First Class” became “Rear-Admiral.” In the USN, however, the next rank after “Captain” is “Rear Admiral (lower half).” After many years of resisting the term “Admiral” because of its royal connotations, the USN rank of “Rear-Admiral” was first authorized by the US Congress on July 16, 1862, under the pressure of Civil War expansion. From an American point of view, beginning from the days of the revolutionary war, the word “Commodore” was an honorary title for Captains in command of two or more ships operating together. They might also be Captains charged with other major responsibilities. In 1862, however, it became an official command rank and remained so until 1899 when it was reserved as a title for retired civil war era Captains. Under administrative pressure of World War II expansion, however, it was transiently resuscitated as a temporary rank in 1943. In 1982, Congress authorized a new rank of “Commodore Admiral” (sort of like “Brigadier-General). However, a year later it reverted to simply “Commodore”. But in 1986 the term disappeared again and was replaced by “Rear Admiral (lower half)” as it is known today. (See Admiral below).
Admiral – The word Admiral goes as far back as 1205, from the Arabic title amir-ar-rahl meaning “chief of the transport” or amir-al-bahr meaning commander of the seas – an officer in the Mediterranean fleet. The term comes from amir meaning “leader.” Many Nigerians will recognize the etymologic similarity between the phrase Amirul-Hajj – the leader of Hajj delegation (pilgrimage) – and the anglicized word “Admiral.” Crusaders to the Middle East may have learned the phrase during various meetings with Arabs, perhaps even as early as the 11th century. Sicilian and Genoese seamen reportedly adapted it as “amiral” while the French and Spanish reportedly used similar ranks for their seafarers. It evolved into “admyrall” and later “admiral” by the 16th century.
King Edward I appointed the first British Admiral in 1297. William de Leyburn was known as “Admiral of the sea of the King of England.” The position evolved into “Lord High Admiral” and – as was the case with the term “Field Marshal” appeared to be focused initially on administrative matters rather than actual command at sea. Over the next few centuries Admirals were poorly paid and often unemployed. But by the 16th century – and continuing until the end of the Napoleonic Wars – Admirals started functioning as operational commanders at sea, using the ship of the junior captain as FlagShip. When commanding the fleet the Admiral would either be out in front or in the middle. When he commanded from the middle his deputy, the Vice Admiral (from the Latin word “Vicis” meaning “deputy” or “stead”) would be positioned out in front. The deputy to the Vice Admiral – known as the Vice-Vice-Admiral – was positioned in the rear of the fleet (along with reserves) which is why he became known as “Rear Admiral” or “Admiral in the rear.”
The Nigerian Navy’s first Admiral was Augustus Aikhomu who apparently got his promotion to that rank after retirement. The first active-duty naval officer to be promoted Admiral was Ibrahim Ogohi.