Military retirees on Tuesday blocked the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, in protest against the formula being used to calculate adjustments to their pensions.
The veterans barricaded the entrance with canopies and chairs, disrupting access to the premises as armed soldiers were stationed at the facility to prevent them from entering.
The protest stemmed from growing dissatisfaction among retired military personnel over the implementation of pension increases promised by the Federal Government following salary adjustments for serving military officers.
The retirees are demanding a review of the calculation method, which they believe has failed to adequately reflect the salary increases granted to serving personnel.
They argue that the adjustment should be implemented in a manner that fairly addresses the entitlements of those who served in the Armed Forces and have since retired.
The demonstration comes weeks after military veterans staged a similar protest at the Ministry of Defence in September.
During that protest, the retirees called for an upward review of their pensions following improvements in the salaries of serving military personnel.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, had reportedly assured the veterans that their pensions would be increased in October.
However, concerns over the formula for implementing the adjustment have continued to generate dissatisfaction among the retirees, with some questioning whether the proposed changes would deliver the expected financial relief.
Speaking in an interview with a correspondent on Monday, the Coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lt. Col. Innocent Azubike, accused the Military Pensions Board of adopting a calculation method that allegedly puts some retirees at a disadvantage.
Azubike said the planned protest was driven by increasing frustration among veterans over the implementation of the consequential adjustment to their pensions.
According to him, the disagreement is not simply about whether pension increases should be granted, but also about how the revised payments are calculated and distributed among eligible retirees.
The veterans maintain that pension adjustments linked to salary increases for serving military personnel should be implemented transparently and in a way that reflects the applicable salary structure and the entitlements of retired officers and other personnel.
Their concerns centre on whether the formula adopted by the board adequately accounts for the changes that prompted the demand for higher pensions in the first place.
The presence of armed soldiers at the Pensions Board entrance added to the tension at the premises, although details of any confrontation, arrests or injuries were not immediately available.
It was also unclear whether the board had begun implementing the promised adjustment or whether officials had opened discussions with the protesting veterans to resolve their concerns.
The retirees are seeking a satisfactory response from the relevant authorities on the disputed formula and the treatment of their pension entitlements.
Their position is that the adjustment should not leave some categories of retired personnel feeling short-changed after years of service.
As of the time of filing this report, no detailed official response from the Military Pensions Board addressing Azubike’s allegations had been provided in the information available.
Further clarification from the board and the Ministry of Defence would be necessary to establish the precise calculation method being used and the basis for the veterans’ complaints.
The protest also follows earlier efforts by the retirees to press their demands through demonstrations at government offices.
Further details on the protest and any response from the relevant authorities are expected to emerge.
