Retired military personnel on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, staged a protest by barricading the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding the payment of their outstanding entitlements. The retirees set up canopies and chairs at the ministry’s gates, disrupting vehicular access and forcing staff to park outside the premises.
The protest follows a similar action in December, during which the retirees shut down the ministry over the government’s failure to settle their claims. Despite receiving official approval for payment, they were repeatedly told that there were no funds to clear their entitlements, which include a 20% to 28% salary increment for January to November 2024.
The retirees are also demanding other outstanding benefits, such as palliatives covering October 2023 to November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, a bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and a refund of pension deductions from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.
In response to the December protests, the Federal Government had paid 50% of the owed entitlements, with a promise to settle the balance. However, the retirees claim that the government has not fulfilled this promise, prompting them to resume their demonstrations.
The protesters have vowed to maintain their presence at the ministry until their demands are fully addressed.
