Scores of retired military personnel on Monday barricaded the entrance to the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting the non-payment of their pensions and other outstanding entitlements.
The aggrieved ex-servicemen, many of them elderly and visibly distressed, gathered as early as 7:00 a.m., blocking access to the ministry’s headquarters and halting official activities for several hours. They displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Pay us our dues,” “We served Nigeria, don’t abandon us,” and “Years after retirement, still no pension.”
The protest caused gridlock along key routes in the Central Business District, as security operatives and ministry workers were prevented from entering the premises.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, retired Warrant Officer Musa Danjuma accused the government of neglecting veterans despite their sacrifices for the country.
“We have written letters, held peaceful meetings, and exhausted every legal avenue. Yet the government has refused to pay us our gratuities, pensions, and other welfare packages. Many of our colleagues have died waiting,” Danjuma lamented.
He added that some of the retired soldiers were wounded in battle or served in peacekeeping missions abroad but had been left to live in penury.
Efforts by officials from the ministry to pacify the protesters were unsuccessful, as the demonstrators insisted on seeing the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, or receiving a concrete payment timeline.
Reacting to the development, a senior official from the ministry who declined to be named said discussions were ongoing between relevant authorities to resolve the matter.
“We understand their grievances and are working with the Ministry of Defence and the Pensions Commission to address the backlog. It’s a complex process, but no one is being deliberately ignored,” the source said.
As of press time, the retired soldiers remained at the ministry gate, vowing not to leave until their demands were met.
The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations by retired military personnel in recent years, underscoring ongoing concerns over the welfare of Nigeria’s ex-servicemen.
