By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
Military veterans on Tuesday barricaded the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, in protest against the formula adopted for calculating adjustments to their pensions.
The protesting retirees blocked access to the premises with canopies and chairs, while armed soldiers were deployed to prevent them from entering the facility.
The demonstration comes weeks after military pensioners staged a protest at the Ministry of Defence in September, demanding an upward review of their pensions following salary increases for serving military personnel.
During the earlier protest, Minister of Defence Christopher Musa reportedly assured the retirees that the pension adjustments would be implemented in October, raising expectations among veterans awaiting improved payments.
However, concerns over how the adjustments are being calculated have continued to fuel discontent among the pensioners, with some alleging that the adopted formula does not adequately reflect the salary increases granted to serving personnel.
The Coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lt. Col. Innocent Azubike, had earlier accused the Military Pensions Board of adopting a formula that allegedly short-changes some retirees.
Azubike said the planned demonstration was driven by growing frustration among veterans over the implementation of the consequential adjustments to their pensions.
At the heart of the dispute is the methodology used to determine the revised pension payments. The veterans argue that the formula should fairly reflect the salary adjustments approved for serving military personnel, rather than leave retirees dissatisfied with the outcome.
Tuesday’s protest highlights the deepening disagreement between military pensioners and the relevant authorities over the implementation of the promised adjustments.
With veterans demanding a fair review of the calculation method, attention is now focused on how the authorities will address their grievances and ensure that the pension adjustments meet the expectations raised by the earlier assurances.
