Retired military personnel protest at Ministry of Finance over unpaid benefits

Abdullateef Fowewe

Retired military personnel on Tuesday, staged a protest by blocking the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja with canopies and chairs, demanding the immediate settlement of their long-pending entitlements.

The demonstration marks a continuation of their previous action in December, where the retirees had also shut down the ministry in frustration over the government’s failure to fulfill their claims.

The retirees are pressing for the disbursement of various long-overdue benefits, including palliatives for the period from October 2023 to November 2024.

They are also calling for an increase of N32,000 to their pensions, a lump sum payment of the Security Debarment Allowance and a refund of pension deductions taken from the salaries of soldiers who were medically discharged.

Following the retirees’ December protests, the Federal Government paid 50% of the outstanding entitlements and assured them that the remaining balance would be settled.

However, the retirees assert that the government has not honored its commitment, leading to the renewal of their protests.

In images seen online, the retirees set up canopies and arranged chairs to block the entrance of the ministry, preventing staff from entering the premises. As a result, many were forced to park their vehicles outside the ministry grounds.