By John Audu.
Retired military personnel made their voices heard on Tuesday as they barricaded the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja with canopies and chairs, demanding the full payment of their long-overdue entitlements.
This protest comes after a previous demonstration in December, where retirees protested the government’s failure to settle their claims.
Despite an official approval for payment, retirees have been informed for months that there are no funds available to clear their entitlements. They are owed a 20% to 28% salary increment from January to November 2024.
The retirees are also seeking 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.
In response to their previous protests, the Federal Government paid 50% of the owed entitlements and promised to settle the rest. However, the retirees claim that the government has not kept its promise, leading to the resumption of their protests.
The retirees set up canopies and chairs at the ministry entrance, blocking the gate and preventing staff from driving in, causing many to park their vehicles outside
See more photos from the protest
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