- Retired military personnel protested in Abuja over unpaid entitlements, blocking the Federal Ministry of Finance
- The group demanded payment for salary hikes, palliative funds, and pension increases from the Federal Government
- Protestors claimed the government failed to meet promises of payment, citing lack of cash backing as the reason for delays
Retired military personnel have raised allegations against the Federal Government for failing to pay the 20% to 28% salary hike they were entitled to from January to November 2024.
On Thursday, December 5, they took to the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, halting activities in protest of the unpaid entitlements.
Protesters in Abuja call for settlement of unpaid entitlements and benefits
The group called for the payment of palliatives owed from October 2023 to November 2024, an extra N32,000 in their pensions, the full settlement of the Security Debarment Allowance, and the reimbursement of pension deductions from soldiers who were medically boarded, among other requests.
The protesters arrived with sleeping mats, chairs, and canopies to set up at the protest site. Colonel Innocent Azubuike (retd.), one of the group's leaders, expressed the struggles of military pensioners, emphasising that their unpaid benefits had led to severe hardship.
Azubuike laments salary hikes, benefits delay
Azubuike explained that, despite prior promises to clear their entitlements in November, they were informed that the payments were delayed because of insufficient cash backing.
“We were told approval has been secured for the payment of our entitlements. The only thing remaining is cash backing.
“We were told to exercise patience and assured that our long-unpaid entitlements would be settled in November. November is gone, and there is no indication of when this will happen because it’s a matter with the FMoF and not the Ministry of Defence,” Azubuike stated.
Nigerians mark Independence day with “fearless in October” protests, reiterate demand for reforms
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that as Nigeria celebrated its 64th independence anniversary, protesters gathered under the banner of “Fearless in October,” demanding relief from economic hardship.
The protesters pushed for solutions to the high cost of living, and reforms in electoral processes, among others.