On Tuesday, retired military veterans protested in Abuja by blocking the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office. They were upset about how their pensions are being adjusted.
The protest started early in the morning, around 8 a.m., with veterans using canopies and chairs to block access to the building. Armed soldiers were present to prevent them from entering the premises.
This protest follows a similar demonstration at the Ministry of Defence in September, where veterans called for an increase in their pensions. The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Retired), had promised that retirees would see a pension increase in October after President Tinubu approved salary hikes for active military personnel.
Lt Col Innocent Azubike (Retired), a coordinator with the Veterans Association of Nigeria, expressed concerns that the board’s formula for adjusting pensions was unfair and did not properly reflect the recent salary increases for active soldiers. Many veterans are unhappy with how their pensions are being calculated.
Azubike noted that the dissatisfaction among veterans has been growing, leading to this protest. They believe the current adjustments do not adequately account for the increases granted to serving military personnel.
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