Operations at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja were disrupted on Monday as angry retired soldiers staged a protest over unpaid entitlements.
The demonstration, which saw the ex-servicemen barricading the ministry entrance, drew widespread attention and sparked questions over the government’s handling of veterans’ welfare.
In response, the Military Pensions Board (MPB) issued a late-night statement attributing the protest to a “lapse in communication” between relevant authorities and the protesting retirees.
MPB spokesman, Squadron Leader Ahmed Mohammed, clarified that some of the demands made by the ex-servicemen were outside the board’s statutory responsibilities.
“For instance, parking allowances fall under the jurisdiction of individual military services, not the MPB. Our core mandate is strictly the payment of pensions and gratuities,” he said.
He further explained that issues like the Security Debarment Allowance are managed by the Defence Headquarters, while salary arrears are dependent on the federal budget.
“The shortfall the retirees are referring to resulted from the timing of their exit from service. They retired during a fiscal year that did not include the new minimum wage, so it was impossible to pay them based on the revised structure,” he added.
According to Mohammed, retirees who left the service after the budget was updated to reflect the new minimum wage have been paid accordingly.
While acknowledging the retirees’ frustrations, he emphasized that relevant government agencies are already processing the outstanding payments and assured that the ex-servicemen would be paid once funds are available.
He expressed disappointment over the protest, noting that it could have been avoided if the retirees had first engaged with the appropriate authorities for clarification.
Photos from the scene showed dozens of retirees gathered outside the Finance Ministry, holding placards and demanding immediate action on their benefits.
The protest adds to growing concerns about the treatment of retired military personnel in Nigeria and the need for improved communication between veterans and government bodies.
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