Military Retirees Shut Down Finance Ministry in Abuja Over Unpaid Entitlements

Retired military officers under the Coalition of Military Pensioners staged a protest in Abuja on Thursday, December 5, 2024, effectively shutting down the Federal Ministry of Finance. The demonstration was sparked by the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill their financial obligations, including the payment of a 20% to 28% salary increment due from January to November 2024.

The retirees, who gathered from various chapters across the country, expressed frustration over the non-payment of entitlements that had been promised. Their demands include the payment of palliatives for the period spanning October 2023 to November 2024, the disbursement of a N32,000 pension increment, the bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and the refund of deductions made from the pensions of medically boarded soldiers.

The protest highlights ongoing dissatisfaction with the Military Pensions Board. In December 2023, the Senate announced plans for a full investigation into the board’s operations. This followed concerns raised during budget discussions, where the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Olamilekan Adeola, questioned the board’s transparency and efficiency.

During a session defending the 2024 budget report, the board requested an additional N20 billion for the construction of a new office building and the renovation of phases 1 to 4 of the federal secretariat. Lawmakers demanded clarity on the board’s budget, its operational expenses, and the exact number of retirees receiving payments.