Dozens of retired soldiers stormed the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Monday, protesting the non-payment of their entitlements, including gratuity, parking allowance, and Security Debarment Allowance (SDA).
The aggrieved ex-servicemen, who voluntarily retired from the Nigerian Army in the first and second quarters of 2023 and officially disengaged in February 2024, blocked the ministry’s main gate, demanding urgent government intervention.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, retired Corporal Eze Moses said they were tired of unfulfilled promises and delays in payment. “We served this country with everything we had, yet we are being ignored. We don’t want to be pushed to the wall. We are only asking for what is rightfully ours,” he said.
Another protester, Staff-Sergeant Simeon David, accused authorities of underpaying their entitlements using outdated rates. “They promised to adjust it, but nothing has been done till now,” he said.
Corporal Umar Umar added that the Military Pensions Board told them they were not eligible for new national minimum wage adjustments because of their disengagement date. “This is unfair. We sacrificed for this nation and are now being sidelined,” he said.
Responding to the protest, a representative from the Ministry of Finance, the Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, assured the retirees that their concerns would be addressed and that the government was reviewing the matter.
