Follow Us on Google
From Philip Nwosu and Molly Kilete, Abuja
Military pensioners have threatened to take their protest to the Presidential Villa if the Federal Government fails to implement outstanding consequential adjustments to their pensions following salary increases for serving personnel.
The threat came as the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), yesterday met with representatives of the protesting ex-servicemen and assured them that the government would address their concerns over pension adjustments and other welfare-related issues.
The pensioners had earlier gathered near the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, carrying placards and demanding what they described as their constitutional and legal entitlements.
They were, however, prevented from gaining access to the ministry as soldiers, police officers and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) cordoned off the area and restricted movement around the premises.
The protesters later moved to a road median, where they addressed journalists and vowed to escalate the action to the Presidential Villa if their demands were not addressed.
Spokesman for the pensioners, retired Lt. Col. Innocent Anas, said they were protesting the failure of the government to reflect recent salary increases for serving military personnel in the pensions of retired personnel.
According to him, retired military personnel are entitled to consequential adjustments whenever the salaries of serving personnel are reviewed upward.
“We have paid our dues in patriotic service to this nation. There is a constitutional provision that when you increase the pay of any personnel, there should be a consequential allowance — a consequential adjustment for pensioners,” Anas said.
He said the failure to implement the adjustments had created disparities in which some recently retired lower-ranking personnel could receive higher pensions than officers who retired several years earlier.
“A couple of sergeants who retired recently could be receiving a pension higher than that of a captain who retired 10 years back, and they served in the same Armed Forces,” he said.
Anas said the pensioners were particularly concerned that a salary increase approved for military and paramilitary personnel in November 2025 had yet to be reflected in their pensions.
He also argued that any new salary structure for serving personnel should be accompanied by a corresponding adjustment for pensioners.
“If they want to implement it by law, by the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act, there should be a consequential adjustment — an increase in the pay of pensioners — to meet up to par,” he said.
Other News
The pensioners’ protest came against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s approval of salary increases ranging from 30 to 80 per cent for military personnel.
Under the arrangement, officers above the rank of colonel are to receive a 30 per cent increase, personnel from colonel to warrant officer 50 per cent, while those from private to staff sergeant are to receive an 80 per cent increase.
Anas alleged that retired personnel had not been included in the computation for the latest salary adjustment.
The pensioners’ spokesman warned that failure to resolve the issue would force them to extend their protest to the Presidential Villa in the coming days.
“We also deserve what was given to the serving personnel,” he said.
However, in a development that could ease the tension, Musa met representatives of the protesters yesterday and appealed to them to remain calm and embrace dialogue.
The minister, who was represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary, Richard Pheelangwah, said the Federal Government remained committed to addressing the welfare, remuneration and pension concerns of retired military personnel.
He said any adjustment to veterans’ entitlements must be properly computed, adequately funded and implemented in accordance with existing approvals, regulations and due process.
“Any adjustment to veterans’ entitlements must be properly computed, adequately funded and implemented in accordance with extant approvals, regulations and due process,” he said.
Musa assured the veterans that the Ministry of Defence would continue to engage their representatives and provide updates as progress was made on their demands.
He also reiterated the government’s appreciation of the patriotism and sacrifices of military veterans, stressing that their service to the country must be recognised through sustained attention to their welfare and legitimate entitlements.
Despite the meeting, the pensioners have maintained that they expect concrete action on the outstanding adjustments.
The development leaves the government with the task of translating the minister’s assurance into an implementation framework that addresses the pensioners’ concerns and prevents further escalation of the protest.
