A coalition of retired military personnel under the Coalition of Military Pensioners on Thursday morning shut down the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting the Federal Government’s failure to pay their long-overdue entitlements.
The retirees, drawn from various chapters across the country, lamented the non-payment of a 20% to 28% salary increment that was supposed to be implemented from January to November 2024. They accused the government of neglecting their welfare despite years of dedicated service to the nation.
Among their key demands are the immediate payment of palliatives covering October 2023 to November 2024, the addition of N32,000 to their monthly pensions, and the full payment of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) as a lump sum. They also demanded the refund of deductions made from the pensions of medically boarded soldiers.
Speaking to reporters, some of the protesting retirees expressed frustration over the government’s failure to honor its promises, noting that the delay in payments had left many of them and their families in financial hardship.
“This neglect is unacceptable. We have served this country with our lives, and this is not the treatment we deserve in our retirement,” one of the protesters said.
The protest disrupted activities at the ministry, with officials unable to access their offices. Security operatives were present to prevent the situation from escalating.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government has not issued an official statement addressing the retirees’ grievances.
This protest is the latest in a series of actions by military retirees demanding better treatment and fulfillment of financial commitments from the government.
