Many retired Nigerian soldiers on Thursday blocked the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting the alleged delay in releasing funds to the Military Pensions Board, MPB, for the payment of their outstanding entitlements.
They stated that they resolved to protest after officials of the Ministry of Finance failed to honour earlier assurances that their benefits would be paid by August 10.
But reacting to their demonstration, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Markus Kanye, said the aggrieved former soldiers have already been educated.
He explained that the agitation stemmed from the introduction of two separate salary charts for military personnel in 2024, following the implementation of the new minimum wage.
According to him, a “pre-minimum wage chart” was in effect between January 1 and July 28, 2024, while the “minimum wage chart” took effect from July 29, 2024, and remains applicable.
The senior military officer said, “The actions of these protesting soldiers are seriously affecting the smooth conduct of activities at the Ministry of Finance.
“While the Defence Headquarters acknowledges the right to legitimate protest, the veterans are strongly advised to tread with caution and vacate the premises of the Federal Ministry of Finance to allow government functions to continue seamlessly.
“This is the message we have been directed to pass on, so that through your medium, our veterans and the Nigerian public can be properly informed.
“Let me reaffirm that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to their constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of our great nation, supporting civil authorities in maintaining internal security, and ensuring peace and stability across all regions,” Kanye added.
Kanye noted that gratuity and security debarment allowance for retired personnel are calculated based on the salary chart in effect on the date of retirement.
“Before the implementation of the new minimum wage, there was a chart on which gratuity and security debarment allowance for soldiers was calculated, and later, the minimum wage chart. Essentially, there were two charts in 2024.
“The first, known as the pre-minimum wage chart, was effective from January 1, 2024, to July 28, 2024. I repeat: January 1, 2024, to July 28, 2024. This was the chart used to calculate the emoluments of retired soldiers and other military personnel.
“The second was the minimum wage chart, which took effect from July 29, 2024, and remains applicable to date. Now, the calculation of gratuity and security debarment allowance for military personnel is based on the salary chart in effect on the date of retirement.
“If a soldier retires today, his entitlements will be calculated using the current chart. If another chart is introduced tomorrow, the same soldier’s entitlements will not be recalculated based on the new chart.
“Unfortunately, the soldiers who retired between January 1 and July 28, 2024, before the implementation of the new minimum wage, want their gratuity and allowances calculated based on the new chart. This cannot be done because the policy only came into effect on July 29.
“Those who fall within the pre-minimum wage chart category are the soldiers who have continued to protest and block access to the Federal Ministry of Finance, despite repeated explanations from the Defence Headquarters,” he said.
The Director Defence Media Operations maintained that the veterans had been adequately educated on the matter but had continued to stage protests and block access to the Ministry of Finance.
Speaking to journalists, one of the protester said the renewed demonstration was prompted by what she described as the government’s failure to act on its commitments.
“We are here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled. We had no choice but to return to the streets. This time around, the protest will be massive,” she said.
The senior citizens have, in recent years, staged several protests in Abuja and other cities, lamenting delays in payment of their pensions and accusing authorities of neglect.
