Former members of the Nigerian armed forces, discharged from service, took to the streets of Abuja again on Thursday, insisting on the settlement of their unpaid allowances.
These veterans had earlier halted their demonstrations on August 4 after negotiations with officials from the Defence and Finance ministries, during which they were assured that the outstanding funds would be disbursed by August 10.
Reassembling at the Finance Ministry’s premises in the federal capital, the protesters accused the government of abandoning them and failing to keep the commitments made in their earlier meeting.
One of the participants, widely known as Mama G, said frustration over unkept promises drove them back to public protest.
“We are here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled. We had no choice but to return to the streets. This time around, the protest will be massive”, Mama G said.
This action adds to a long list of similar demonstrations. In past years, retired personnel have persistently marched in Abuja and other locations across the country, voicing anger over what they describe as neglect and poor treatment.
As of press time, the Defence Ministry, Defence Headquarters, and the Military Pension Board had not provided any official comment on the matter.
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