FG Settles Owed Entitlements To Retired Military After Protest
Retired military personnel have started receiving credit alerts for the full payment of their long-awaited entitlements, leading many to leave the protest site in front of the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the retirees had gathered early on Thursday, December 6, 2024, to demand the full settlement of their entitlements, using canopies and chairs to block the entrance and prevent staff from accessing the ministry.
This protest followed a similar action in December, when retirees shut down the ministry over the government’s failure to clear their claims.
The government had initially cited a lack of funds despite official approval for the payments, which included a 20%-28% salary increment for the period between January and November 2024, among other benefits.
The retirees also sought additional payments for palliatives, a pension increase, and a refund for pension deductions from medically boarded soldiers.
In response to the December protests, the government paid 50% of the owed entitlements and promised to settle the remainder. However, the retirees claimed that the government did not fulfill its promise, which led to the resumption of their protests on Tuesday.
Despite efforts by police and senior ministry staff to convince the retirees to end their protest, they insisted they would only leave once they received credit alerts confirming their payments.
Shortly before the alerts started coming through, the Chairman of the Military Pension Board, Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson, addressed the protesters and confirmed that the funds had been transferred to the board.
“We have received the money for the payment of your entitlements, and in the next few minutes, you will start seeing your alerts,” Irumheson assured. He urged the retirees to leave the protest site as the process was being finalized.
The spokesperson for the Coalition for Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, confirmed the development, stating that retirees had begun receiving their payments and were now heading home.
Another veteran leader, Aliyu Umar, expressed frustration over the government’s earlier claims of insufficient funds, questioning why protests were necessary for the government to fulfill its obligations.
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