Hundreds of retired Nigerian soldiers on Thursday staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding the payment of their outstanding pensions and other entitlements.
The demonstration comes after officials of the Ministry of Finance reportedly failed to honor earlier assurances that the backlog would be cleared by August 10.
The veterans, many of whom voluntarily left the Nigerian Army in 2024, accused the government of neglect and expressed frustration over repeated delays. “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,” said one protester, identified simply as Mama G.
The protest follows a previous demonstration on August 4, which was suspended after meetings with the Ministries of Defence and Finance, where officials promised to address the payment delays.
However, the Defence Headquarters intervened, ordering the protesters to immediately vacate the Finance Ministry premises. Director of Defence Media Operations, Markus Kangye, said the protest was “seriously affecting the smooth conduct of activities at the Ministry of Finance” and urged the veterans to tread with caution.
“While we acknowledge the right to legitimate protest, the veterans are strongly advised to vacate the premises to allow government functions to continue seamlessly,” Kangye said. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Armed Forces’ commitment to defending the nation and supporting civil authorities in maintaining peace and stability.
At the time of reporting, neither the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, nor the Military Pensions Board had issued a response to the ongoing protest.
