After months of demanding their entitlements, retired military personnel have finally received payments, prompting them to end their protest at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja.
The retirees had gathered early on Tuesday morning, blocking the ministry’s entrance with chairs and canopies, preventing staff members from entering the premises.
Their protest was aimed at securing the full payment of benefits owed to them, including a 20% to 28% salary increment for January to November 2024, palliatives for October 2023 to November 2024, an additional ₦32,000 pension adjustment, a bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and refunds of deductions from salaries of medically boarded soldiers.
This latest protest followed a similar demonstration in December, during which the government made a partial payment of 50% and promised to settle the balance.
Efforts by police officers, security personnel, and ministry officials to persuade the protesters to leave initially failed, as the retirees insisted they would not budge until they received credit alerts for their payments.
However, Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson, Chairman of the Military Pension Board, addressed the retirees on Tuesday, confirming that funds had been transferred to the board and that payments were being processed.
Shortly after, retirees began receiving alerts for their entitlements.
Speaking to reporters, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, spokesperson for the Coalition for Concerned Veterans, confirmed the development. “Our people have started receiving the alerts. We are now evacuating the ministry headquarters to return to our various homes,” he said.
