Retired members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, under the Coalition of Military Pensioners, staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Thursday, demanding the payment of their outstanding entitlements.
The aggrieved pensioners, drawn from various chapters across the country, decried the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 20% to 28% salary increment due to them from January to November 2024.
The retirees listed their demands to include:
- Payment of palliatives covering October 2023 to November 2024.
- Inclusion of an additional N32,000 in their pensions.
- Payment of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) in a lump sum.
- Refund of deductions made from the pensions of medically boarded soldiers.
Speaking at the protest, the pensioners expressed frustration over the government’s delays and called for urgent action to address their plight.
“This delay in settling our entitlements is unjust and neglects the sacrifices we made for the nation,” one of the protesters said.
The demonstration led to the temporary closure of the Finance Ministry as the protesters barricaded the premises, insisting that their grievances be addressed promptly.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from the Federal Government or the Ministry of Finance regarding the pensioners’ demands.
By Julian Adetinuyo
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