Military Retirees Block Pensions Board Entrance in Abuja Over Pension Adjustments
Military retirees on Tuesday blocked the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, protesting the formula adopted for adjusting their pensions.
The veterans barricaded the entrance with canopies and chairs, while armed soldiers prevented them from entering the premises.
The protest comes weeks after retired military personnel demonstrated at the Ministry of Defence in September, demanding an increase in their pensions following salary adjustments for serving military personnel.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, had reportedly assured the retirees that their pensions would be increased in October. However, concerns have persisted over how the adjustments are being calculated and implemented.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, the Coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lt. Col. Innocent Azubike, accused the Military Pensions Board of adopting a formula that allegedly short-changed some retirees.
Azubike said the planned demonstration followed growing dissatisfaction among veterans over the implementation of the consequential pension adjustments.
According to him, the dispute centres on a calculation method that retirees believe does not adequately reflect the salary increases granted to serving military personnel.
The veterans are seeking a pension adjustment that they consider fair and consistent with the changes made to the salaries of serving personnel.
The latest protest highlights the continuing disagreement between military retirees and the authorities over the implementation of the promised pension increases.
The retirees’ concerns remain focused on the adjustment formula and whether it delivers the expected benefits to those who served in the armed forces.
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