Dozens of aggrieved retired military personnel on Monday barricaded the main entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja in protest over the non-payment of their statutory entitlements, disrupting official activities and drawing public attention to their long-standing grievances.
The peaceful protest, staged by both male and female veterans, some of whom wore camouflage, was aimed at demanding the immediate payment of outstanding gratuity balances, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and parking allowances allegedly withheld since their disengagement from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Despite intervention efforts by a senior military officer, an Air Vice Marshal, who attempted to calm the demonstrators, the ex-servicemen and women refused to vacate the gate, insisting that no dialogue would begin until concrete steps were taken to address their demands.
One of the protest leaders, Umar Faruq (Retired Corporal), who also identified as an engineer, accused the Military Pensions Board of “deliberate neglect.”
He said the Board informed them that they were not entitled to benefit from the new national minimum wage adjustments because they were discharged on July 1, 2024.
“This is unacceptable. We gave our best years to the nation. Many of us are suffering while the system continues to deny us what is rightfully ours,” Faruq said, noting that the claim is both unfair and unjustified.
Mohamed Kabiru, a retired Sergeant, another protester, spoke emotionally about the struggles many ex-soldiers face after years of loyal service.
“They didn’t pay us our full money. They promised parking allowance, they didn’t pay it. We gave our lives for this country, yet we are treated like we don’t matter,” he said.
He questioned the value system of the country, comparing their plight to the generous rewards given to footballers.
“I carry iron in my body from injuries sustained while in service. But they pay millions to athletes for 90 minutes of play and ignore us who risked everything.”
Lawrence Yusuf, a retired Warrant Officer, who served in the military for 31 years, said he received only ₦6.8 million as his gratuity, a sum he said cannot buy a plot of land in Nigeria today.
“After three decades of sacrifice, this is what I get? It’s disgraceful. They also refused to pay our SDA and other entitlements”, he stated.
The protesters claimed the government is using a 2019 salary structure to compute their payments, despite adjustments made to the national minimum wage and military allowances since 2024.
They said this outdated payment system has been a key part of their frustration. They also decried being pressured to leave military barracks without receiving the “parking allowance” meant to facilitate their relocation.
“They didn’t pay us the money to move out, yet they’re evicting us,” said one retired officer. According to the protesters, this systemic neglect has gone on for generations.
“They did this to our fathers and older brothers in the military. If we don’t speak up now, the same injustice will continue with the next generation,” one veteran warned.
While the protest caused temporary disruptions at the Finance Ministry, a senior government official, the Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, eventually addressed the crowd.
Speaking on behalf of Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and the Economic Coordination Team, he acknowledged their grievances and assured them of the government’s willingness to resolve the matter.
“You are entitled to these benefits. I give you my word, we will sit with your leaders and find a solution. We have acted on similar issues before and will do so again,” he stated.
Despite the assurances, the protesters vowed to continue their advocacy until their demands are fully met. They emphasised that their demonstration was not just for themselves, but to prevent future military retirees from experiencing the same injustice.
“We are federal workers. We gave everything to this country. If nothing is done now, national morale and security will suffer,” one of them said. They called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene directly and ensure that the rights and sacrifices of Nigeria’s retired military personnel are not ignored
