A group of aggrieved retired military personnel on Monday blocked the main entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting the non-payment of their statutory entitlements.
Naijaonpoint reports that the ex-servicemen, comprising both men and women, many clad in military camouflage, vowed not to leave until their demands were met. They are demanding immediate payment of outstanding gratuities, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and parking allowances owed to them.
Efforts by a senior military officer, an Air Vice Marshal, to persuade the veterans to vacate the premises were unsuccessful. The retirees insisted that they would not enter into any dialogue until the government addressed their grievances.
One of the protest leaders, Retired Corporal Umar Faruq, expressed frustration over what he described as “deliberate neglect” by authorities.
Faruq disclosed that the Military Pensions Board had informed the retirees that they were not entitled to benefit from the new national minimum wage adjustments because they had been disengaged from service as of July 1, 2024.
He described the decision as unjust, insisting that the government must honour its obligations to those who served the country.
The protest, which disrupted official activities at the ministry, attracted a heavy security presence and passersby.
As of press time, neither the Ministry of Finance nor the Military Pensions Board had issued an official statement.
However, the Permanent Secretary for Special Duties briefly addressed the protesters and assured them that their concerns would be addressed promptly.
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