Military Retirees to Stage Protest Over 11-Month Unpaid Entitlements

The military retirees are urging the Federal Ministry of Finance to address the matter promptly and ensure they receive the payments owed to them for their service to the nation.

Abuja, Nigeria – Military retirees across Nigeria are gearing up for a large-scale protest in Abuja on Thursday, decrying the prolonged delay in the payment of their entitlements.

The pensioners, who have reportedly waited 11 months despite securing approval for the funds, are demanding immediate action from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Retired Colonel Innocent Azubuike, popularly known as Nass, one of the leaders of the movement, expressed the retirees’ frustrations while speaking to newsmen. He lamented the severe hardship caused by the unpaid entitlements and accused the government of failing to deliver on its promises.

“We were told approval has been secured for the payment of our entitlements. The only thing remaining is cash-backing,” Azubuike explained. “We were assured that our long-unpaid entitlements would be settled in November. Now November is gone, and there’s no indication of when this will happen because the issue lies with the Federal Ministry of Finance, not the Ministry of Defence.”

Azubuike stated that the retirees, tired of waiting in vain, had decided to take matters into their own hands through a massive demonstration.

“We must take our fate into our hands; otherwise, we will continue to die off in misery and deprivation,” he said. “We have paid our dues in patriotic service to this nation. We demand our pension rights. This nation is not too poor to pay us such little stipends.”

Preparations for the protest are reportedly in full swing, with retirees from across the country already arriving in Abuja.

“We have arranged mobile toilets and sleeping mats to use throughout the protest. It is going to be a massive demonstration,” Azubuike added.

The retirees are urging the Federal Ministry of Finance to address the matter promptly and ensure they receive the payments owed to them for their service to the nation.