Retired military personnel staged a protest in Abuja on Tuesday, barricading the entrance to the Ministry of Finance with canopies and chairs. The demonstrators are demanding the full payment of long-overdue entitlements, which have been delayed for several months. This marks the second such protest since December, when retirees had previously shut down the ministry over similar grievances.
Despite an official approval for payment, the retirees have been told for months that there were insufficient funds to clear their entitlements. The protestors are owed a 20% to 28% salary increment for the period from January to November 2024, along with other outstanding benefits. These include palliative payments for the period between October 2023 and November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, a lump sum for the Security Debarment Allowance, and a refund of pension deductions from medically boarded soldiers.
In response to the December protest, the Federal Government paid 50% of the owed entitlements and promised to settle the remaining balance. However, the retirees claim that the government has failed to honor that commitment, prompting them to resume their protests.
At the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, the retirees set up canopies and chairs to block the gate, preventing staff from entering the premises and forcing many to park their vehicles outside. The protest is ongoing, with no immediate resolution in sight.
