A group of retired Nigerian military personnel operating under the Coalition of Military Pensioners staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Thursday morning.
Their demonstration centred on the government’s failure to implement a promised salary increase of 20% to 28% for the period from January to November 2024.
The retirees, who represented various regional chapters, expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s inability to fulfil their financial entitlements.
Among their demands were the release of palliative payments from October 2023 to November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and reimbursement for unauthorized deductions from the pensions of medically discharged soldiers.
In December 2023, the Senate disclosed plans to conduct a thorough investigation into the operations of the Military Pensions Board following its recess.
This announcement was made by Senator Olamilekan Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, during a budget defence session led by the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service.
During the session, the committee reviewed a request for an additional N20 billion. This funding was intended for the construction of a new office building for the Military Pensions Board and renovations to phases one through four of the federal secretariat.
Senator Adeola also scrutinized the board’s financial activities, including its budget allocations and the number of retirees it serves.
