Retired Military Personnel Block Ministry of Finance in Abuja Over Unpaid Benefits

Retired military personnel in Abuja staged another protest on Tuesday, this time barricading the entrance to the Ministry of Finance with canopies and chairs in a bid to demand the full payment of their long-overdue entitlements. The protest follows a similar action in December, where retirees shut down the ministry to protest the government’s failure to settle their claims.

The retirees, who have been waiting for months, claim they were told there were no funds to pay their entitlements despite an official approval for payment. Among the claims they are seeking to be settled are a 20% to 28% salary increment for the period of January to November 2024, along with other outstanding benefits. These include Palliatives for October 2023 to November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, the bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and a refund for pension deductions from the salaries of soldiers medically boarded.

In response to the retirees’ protests last December, the Federal Government paid 50% of the owed entitlements and promised to clear the balance. However, the retirees insist that the government has failed to fulfill its promises, prompting them to resume their protests in full force.

At the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja, the retirees set up canopies and chairs to block the entrance, effectively preventing staff from driving into the premises. This action led to many vehicles being forced to park outside the ministry gates.