Ex-Servicemen Blocked From Defence Ministry Protest Over Pension Adjustments
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Amaechi Jovita Akarachi
ABUJA — Police and soldiers reportedly prevented a group of ex-servicemen from accessing the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Wednesday as they attempted to protest over outstanding pension adjustments.
The former service members had gathered to draw attention to what they described as unresolved pension-related concerns and to demand action from the Federal Government on payments owed to them.
The protesters, comprising former personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, were reportedly stopped by security operatives before they could gain access to the Defence Ministry premises.
Their protest centres on alleged delays in the implementation and payment of pension adjustments, which they say have placed additional financial pressure on retired personnel who served the country.
The ex-servicemen are demanding that the government address the outstanding issues and ensure that all approved pension-related obligations are fulfilled.
The development comes amid continuing concerns among retired military personnel over pension administration, payment adjustments and other welfare-related matters.
Security personnel maintained a presence around the ministry as the former service members sought to press their demands. The intervention prevented the protesters from taking their grievances directly to the ministry as initially intended.
The protesters are calling on relevant government authorities to engage them and provide clear explanations on the status of their outstanding pension adjustments.
They also want the government to ensure that commitments made to retired military personnel are implemented without further delays.
The ex-servicemen maintain that their demands are legitimate entitlements arising from their years of service to the nation and should be treated as a matter of priority.
The situation highlights the broader challenges surrounding the welfare of retired members of the armed forces, who have repeatedly called for improved attention to pension payments and other post-service benefits.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the Ministry of Defence on the reported protest or the specific pension adjustments being demanded by the ex-servicemen.
The protesters are expected to continue seeking government intervention until their outstanding concerns are addressed.
The protest took place at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria, amid demands by former military personnel for the settlement of outstanding pension adjustments and related welfare obligations.
