Retired soldiers protest over unpaid entitlements

Hundreds of retired soldiers on Monday staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding the immediate payment of their outstanding entitlements, including gratuities, parking allowances, and Security Debarment Allowance (SDA).

The protesters, who voluntarily disengaged from the Nigerian Army in the first and second quarters of 2023 and formally retired in February 2024, barricaded the entrance of the ministry, accusing the government of neglecting their welfare.

Speaking during the protest, Retired Corporal Eze Moses said the delay in payments was pushing many ex-servicemen to the brink.

“We served the Army for years, and our entitlements have not been paid.

“We don’t want to be tempted to commit a crime.

“If almost 1,000 of us carry arms again, this country will turn into slavery.

“We are begging for what we rightfully deserve,” he said.

Also speaking, Staff Sergeant Simeon David lamented that the government calculated their benefits using outdated rates.

“They promised to pay us based on the new scale, but continued using the old rate. We waited patiently, but nothing happened. That’s why we’re here,” he stated.

Corporal Umar Umar expressed frustration over being excluded from the minimum wage adjustments. He said the Military Pensions Board claimed they were ineligible due to their disengagement date of July 1, 2024.

“This is unacceptable.

“We gave our best years to this country, and now we’re left to suffer,” he said.

In response, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties at the Ministry of Finance, assured the retired soldiers that their concerns would be addressed and promised that the government would look into their demands.