Military Retirees Protest, Block Pensions Board

Nigerian military retirees protesting over pension adjustments have blocked the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The retirees barricaded the entrance with canopies and chairs. Armed soldiers prevented them from entering. The protest comes weeks after military retirees demonstrated at the Ministry of Defence in September. They demanded higher pensions following salary increases for serving military personnel.

Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, — Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa. Credit: Guardian.

Defence Minister Christopher Musa had promised that the retirees would receive an increase in October. However, the veterans say the pension adjustment formula does not fairly reflect the salary increase granted to serving personnel.

According to Punch, the Coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Azubike, accused the board of using a formula that short-changed some retirees. Azubike said growing dissatisfaction with how the pension adjustments were implemented prompted the latest protest.

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