Aggrieved retired military personnel, yesterday, barricaded the main entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja for about six hours in protest against the non-payment of their statutory entitlements, disrupting official activities and drawing public attention to their plight.

The peaceful protest, staged by both male and female veterans, some in camouflage, was meant to demand the immediate payment of their gratuity balances, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and parking allowances allegedly withheld since their disengagement from the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Despite the intervention by an Air Vice Marshal (AVM), 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 protesters, Cpl Umar Faruq (rtd), who also identified himself as an engineer, accused the Military Pensions Board of “deliberate neglect”. He said the board informed them that they were not entitled to 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 was both unfair and unjustified. Another protester, Sgt Mohamed Kabiru (rtd), 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, and didn’t pay it. We gave our lives for this country, yet we are treated like we don’t matter,” Kabiru said, questioning the value system of the country.Noting the generous rewards for footballers, he compared it to their neglect as men that defended the territorial integrity of the country.

“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 N6.8 million as gratuity, a sum he said could not 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 added. The protesters claimed the government was using a 2019 salary structure to compute their payments, despite adjustments made to the national minimum wage and military allowances since 2024.

They said the outdated payment system was 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 elder 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 ministry, the Permanent Secretary for Special Duties eventually addressed the crowd on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economic, Wale Edun. 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 for future military retirees, to save them from the same fate.

“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.