Military Veterans Block Pensions Board Entrance, Demand Fair Pension Adjustment
Retired military personnel on Tuesday barricaded the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, protesting what they described as an unfair formula for adjusting their pensions following salary increases for serving armed forces personnel.
The veterans reportedly arrived at about 8 a.m., placing canopies and chairs at the entrance to prevent access to the premises, while armed soldiers were deployed to restrict their entry.
The protest followed a similar demonstration by military retirees at the Ministry of Defence in September, during which they demanded improved pensions to reflect salary adjustments approved for serving military personnel.
In August, the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, had reportedly assured retirees that their pensions would be increased in October following President Bola Tinubu’s approval of salary increases for armed forces personnel.
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Speaking on the development, a coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, retired Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Azubike, alleged that the pension adjustment formula adopted by the board had short-changed some retirees.
Azubike said the protest was driven by growing dissatisfaction among veterans over the implementation of consequential pension adjustments.
According to him, the retirees’ concerns centre on the method used to calculate the increases, which they believe does not adequately reflect the salary adjustments granted to serving military personnel.
The veterans are demanding a fair and transparent review of the formula to ensure that eligible retirees receive pension adjustments commensurate with the approved salary increases.
The Military Pensions Board had earlier announced the implementation of new pension rates and the payment of arrears, although the latest protest highlights continuing concerns among some retirees over how the adjustments were calculated.
By PRNigeria
