Military retirees on Tuesday blocked the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, to protest against the formula being used to calculate adjustments to their pensions.
The protesting veterans barricaded the entrance with canopies and chairs, preventing normal access to the premises as they expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the planned pension increase.
Armed soldiers were deployed to the premises and prevented the retirees from entering the office during the demonstration.
The protest followed a similar demonstration by retired military personnel at the Ministry of Defence in September, when they demanded that their pensions be adjusted to reflect salary increases approved for serving members of the Armed Forces.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, had assured the retired personnel that their pensions would be increased in October following the adjustment of salaries for serving military officers and other personnel.
However, concerns have continued to grow among the veterans over how the consequential pension adjustments are being calculated.
The Coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Azubike, had criticised the formula adopted by the Military Pensions Board, warning that the method could place some retired military personnel at a disadvantage.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, Azubike alleged that the board’s calculation method might prevent some pensioners from receiving the full benefits they expected from the salary adjustments granted to serving personnel.
He explained that the planned protest was driven by increasing frustration among retired military officers over the handling of the pension review.
According to the veterans, the formula being used does not adequately reflect the salary increases approved for serving members of the Armed Forces.
They expressed concern that the calculation method could result in some retirees receiving smaller pension increases than anticipated, despite the government’s assurance that the adjustments would take effect in October.
The retirees are therefore demanding a fair and transparent review of the formula to ensure that the pension adjustments reflect the approved salary increases and that eligible former military personnel receive the benefits due to them.
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