Retired Military Personnel Block Finance Ministry Over Unpaid Entitlements

Retired Military Personnel Block Finance Ministry Over Unpaid Entitlements

By Fly Cable News

Retired military personnel protested on Tuesday by blocking the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja with canopies and chairs, demanding the full payment of their long-delayed entitlements.

This demonstration follows a similar protest in December when the retirees shut down the ministry over the government’s failure to settle their claims. Despite an official approval for payment, the retirees have been informed for months that there were insufficient funds to clear their dues. They are owed a 20% to 28% salary increase for the period from January to November 2024.

In addition to the salary increments, the retirees are demanding payments for other benefits, including palliatives for October 2023 to November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, a bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and reimbursement for pension deductions from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.

Following their protests in December, the Federal Government paid 50% of the owed entitlements and promised to settle the balance. However, the retirees claim the government has not kept its promise, prompting them to resume their protests.

At the Ministry of Finance, the retirees set up canopies and chairs to block the entrance, preventing staff from entering the premises and forcing many to park outside.