Retired Military Officers protest at Finance Ministry over unpaid entitlements

Dozens of retired military personnel staged a protest on Monday at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja, demanding immediate payment of their outstanding entitlements.

The protest, which began as early as 7 a.m., saw both male and female ex-servicemen block the ministry’s main entrance, leaving many staff stranded and unable to access their offices for hours.

The retirees, chanting solidarity songs and holding placards, called for the release of their long-overdue gratuities, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), parking allowances, and the resolution of salary shortfalls. One of the placards read: “We are 1st and 2nd Quarter Retirees of NA 2003. We are living heroes and deserve to be recognized and treated right—not celebrated as fallen heroes when we are no more.”

Another read: “We the voluntary discharged soldiers of 2024 demand full payment of our benefits, including shortfalls in gratuity, SDA, parking allowance, and four months’ salary cuts.”

Despite efforts by the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), Air Vice Marshal Adamu, to calm the protesters, they refused to disperse, demanding firm assurances.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, including the Permanent Secretary, later arrived and invited selected protest representatives, along with the MPB Chairman, for a closed-door meeting to address their concerns.

Speaking to reporters, retired Corporal Umar Faruq, an engineer, noted that one of their main grievances was the MPB’s alleged claim that they were not eligible for the new national minimum wage because their disengagement was on July 1, 2024.

Another protester vowed they would not vacate the premises until the MPB Chairman assured them that funds for their entitlements had been released and payment alerts would begin reflecting. As of press time, the meeting between the retirees and government officials was still ongoing.