On Tuesday, January 7, retired military personnel staged a protest outside the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding the payment of their overdue entitlements.

The veterans set up canopies and chairs, effectively blocking the ministry’s entrance and halting its regular operations.

This protest is a continuation of their previous demonstration in December, where they also gathered at the ministry to voice their grievances over unpaid claims.

Although the government had approved the payments, they have attributed the delay to insufficient funds.

The retirees are seeking a wage increase of 20% to 28%, which they claim is owed to them for the period from January to November 2024.

They are also requesting various other payments, including:

– October 2023 to November 2024 financial assistance.

– An increase of ₦32,000 in their pensions.

– A one-time payment for the Security Debarment Allowance.

– Reimbursement for pension deductions from soldiers who were medically discharged.

In the aftermath of their December protests, the Federal Government made a partial payment of 50% of the owed amounts, assuring the retirees that the remaining balance would soon be settled.

However, the veterans contend that the government has not followed through on this commitment, prompting the current protest.

During their demonstration, the retirees effectively blocked access to the ministry, which forced staff to leave their vehicles outside the premises, as the protesters insisted on receiving a response to their demands.

Below are some images from the protest:

protest