Retired military personnel protesting over unpaid benefits on Tuesday barricaded the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja with canopies and chairs, demanding the full payment of their long-overdue entitlements.
The protest followed a similar action in December, during which the retirees shut down the ministry over the government's failure to settle their claims.
The retirees said they were told there were no funds to clear their entitlements, despite an official approval for payment months ago.
According to them, they are being owed 20% to 28% salary increment covering January to November 2024.
They are also demanding payments for other outstanding benefits, including: Palliatives for the period between October 2023 and November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, a bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance and a refund of pension deductions from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.
During their December protests, the federal government paid 50% of the owed entitlements and promised to settle the balance.
The retirees however claim the government has repeatedly failed to fulfill its promise, thereby prompting them to resume their protests.
At the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja, the retirees erected canopies and placed chairs to block the gate, effectively preventing staff from driving into the premises, forcing many to park their vehicles outside.
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