By Kolawole Ojebisi
After weeks of suspending their agitation for the payment of outstanding entitlements, retired military personnel have vowed to resume their protest today.
Recall that the retirees had previously shut down the Ministry of Finance in December 2024 over alleged unpaid benefits, claiming the government has failed to fulfill its promise of settling their dues and entitlements.
Their grievances include a 20%-28% salary increment for the period between January and November 2024, unpaid palliatives from October 2023 to November 2024, an additional N32,000 pension increment, full payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and a refund of pension deductions from medically boarded soldiers’ salaries.
According to the retirees, despite approval for these payments, the government had cited insufficient funds as the reason for the delay.
In their December protest, the Ministry of Finance managed to avert further unrest by reportedly releasing 50% of the owed entitlements and promising to pay the balance before the end of the year.
Speaking to journalists on their next move on Monday, a veteran leader, Chief Aliyu Umar, stated that the government had failed to honour its commitment hence the need for another round of protest today.
“We are coming out in full force tomorrow. We have been deceived,” Umar said in a telephone interview. “Do you remember our protest the last time? We were promised 50% payment that day and the balance by month’s end. True to the minister’s words, we received the 50%, but since then, nothing more.
“All our efforts to reach the ministry have been futile. We have mobilised across the country and will lock down the Ministry of Finance as we did last time.”
