Retired Nigerian Soldiers Barricade Finance Ministry In Protest Over Unpaid Benefits.
Dozens of retired Nigerian soldiers staged a dramatic protest on Monday, 4 August 2025, barricading the main entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja to demand the immediate payment of their long-overdue entitlements. The ex-servicemen and women, some clad in military camouflage, blocked access to the ministry with canopies and chairs, disrupting operations and leaving staff stranded for hours.
The protesters, primarily from the 1st and 2nd quarter retirees of 2023 and voluntary discharged soldiers of 2024, voiced their frustration over unpaid gratuities, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), parking allowances, and salary shortfalls. Placards displayed messages such as, “We are living heroes and deserve to be treated right—not celebrated as fallen heroes when we are no more,” and demands for full payment of benefits, including four months’ salary cuts. One protester, Retired Corporal Umar Faruq, highlighted the Military Pensions Board’s claim that retirees disengaged on 1 July 2024 were not entitled to the new national minimum wage, a decision he described as unjust.
This protest follows a similar demonstration in December 2024, after which the Federal Government paid 50% of the owed entitlements and promised to settle the remaining balance. However, the retirees allege the government has failed to honour this commitment, prompting their renewed action. The protesters also demanded palliatives for October 2023 to November 2024, a ₦32,000 pension increase, and refunds for pension deductions from medically discharged soldiers.
The Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at the Ministry of Finance briefly addressed the crowd, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed promptly. A closed-door meeting with selected protest representatives and the Military Pensions Board Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson, was underway as of Monday afternoon, though no official statement has been released by the ministry or the pensions board.
The retirees vowed to remain at the ministry until their demands are met, underscoring their determination to secure the benefits they earned through years of service to the nation. This bold action highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Nigeria’s military veterans and their call for fair treatment.
