Protesting military veterans demand fair pension adjustment, block board entrance

Scores of retired military veterans on Tuesday blocked the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, over concerns about the formula adopted for adjusting the increment in their pensions.

The veterans, as early as 8 a.m., barricaded the entrance with canopies and chairs, while armed soldiers prevented them from entering the premises.

The action comes weeks after military retirees protested at the Ministry of Defence in September, demanding an increase in their pensions following salary adjustments for serving military personnel.

Recall that the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa Rtd, had in August promised that the retirees would receive an increase in their pensions in October following President Tinubu’s approval for an increase in salaries of armed forces personnel.

Speaking in an interview, one of the coordinators of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lt Col Innocent Azubike Rtd, alleged that the board had adopted a pension adjustment formula that allegedly short-changed some retirees.

Azubike said the planned protest followed growing dissatisfaction among veterans over the implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions.

The veterans’ concerns centre on the formula used to calculate the adjustments, which they believe has failed to adequately reflect the salary increases granted to serving military personnel.

Azubike said the planned protest followed growing dissatisfaction among veterans over the implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions.

The veterans’ concerns centre on the formula used to calculate the adjustments, which they believe has failed to adequately reflect the salary increases granted to serving military personnel.