On Monday, a group of retired military personnel staged a protest at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, blocking the entrance in demand of overdue payments. The retirees are owed salary increments ranging from 20 to 28 percent for the period between January and November 2024, alongside various other entitlements.
This protest follows a similar demonstration in December 2024 when the veterans shut down the Ministry of Finance over the government’s failure to settle their claims. Despite an official approval for payment, the retirees have been told for months that there were no available funds to clear their entitlements.
The military pensioners are also seeking additional benefits, including palliatives for the period from October 2023 to November 2024, an extra N32,000 added to their pensions, bulk payments for Security Debarment Allowance, and a refund of pension deductions from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.
In response to their previous December protest, the federal government paid 50% of the owed entitlements, with assurances that the remaining balance would be paid. However, the retirees contend that the government has not fulfilled this promise, which led to the resumption of their protest.
At the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja, the retirees set up canopies and placed chairs at the gate, blocking access and forcing staff to park outside. The protest significantly disrupted the Ministry’s operations, with many vehicles unable to enter the premises.
In an effort to address the situation, the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson, confirmed that the federal government had paid the remaining 50% balance of the pension arrears. Addressing the veterans on Tuesday, Irumheson assured the protesters that the payments were being processed at the bank and that they would begin receiving their arrears “any moment from now.”
“I assure you that any moment from now, you will begin to receive your alerts,” Irumheson stated, urging the protesters to end their demonstration.
