By Uche Amunike
Retired military personnel on Wednesday suspended their planned protest after receiving assurances from the Defence Minister, Gen Christopher Musa (retd.), that the Federal Government would address their demands over pension adjustments and other welfare concerns.
The ex-servicemen had attempted to converge at the Ministry of Defence headquarters at Ship House, Abuja, to protest what they described as the failure of authorities to implement consequential pension adjustments following salary increases approved for serving military personnel.
However, after a meeting between representatives of the veterans and officials of the Ministry of Defence, the retirees agreed to suspend their protest and disperse.
One of the leaders of the ex-servicemen, Col Innocent Azubike (retd.), said the government had acknowledged that their demands were genuine and had begun taking steps towards resolving the issues.
According to him, the authorities agreed to start computing the consequential allowances and include the required funds in the budgetary provision for implementing the expected pension adjustments.
Azubike described the development as a major victory for the retired military personnel, noting that the media attention generated by the planned protest also helped bring the matter to the attention of relevant authorities.
Hear him: ‘Authorities have accepted that our cause was genuine and promised and initiated action also to compute our consequential allowance and include it in the fund requirement for implementation of the new outcome.’
‘That was mission achieved as far as we are concerned. At this moment, for me, I will be getting back to my station. All our people have dispersed.’
The Defence Minister, who was represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwah, assured the veterans that the government remained committed to addressing their welfare, remuneration and pension concerns.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesman, Henshaw Ogubike, the Defence Minister said concerns relating to wage and pension adjustments were receiving urgent attention.
He explained that relevant military, pension and financial authorities were being engaged to arrive at a fair, sustainable and implementable solution.
‘Concerns relating to wage and pension adjustments are receiving urgent attention, with relevant military, pension and financial authorities being engaged to achieve a fair, sustainable and implementable resolution that ensures veterans are not unfairly disadvantaged,’ Musa said.
The Defence Minister appealed to the ex-servicemen to remain calm and embrace dialogue, stressing that any adjustment to veterans’ entitlements must be properly calculated, adequately funded and implemented in line with existing approvals and regulations.
He also assured them that the Ministry of Defence would continue to engage their representatives and provide updates as progress was made.
Earlier, security was tightened around the ministry, with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Immigration Service and Vehicle Inspection Officers deployed around the venue.
Armed soldiers were also seen taking positions along major roads leading to the ministry, while two armoured personnel carriers and several security vehicles were stationed around the protest area.
The retired personnel had insisted that pensioners should benefit from consequential adjustments arising from salary increases approved for serving military personnel.
According to Azubike, the veterans were not opposed to improved salaries for serving personnel but wanted corresponding adjustments to their pensions.
He also raised concerns over the latest military salary increase announced in August 2026, expected to take effect in September, alleging that pensioners were excluded from the computation.
In response, the Defence Minister acknowledged the sacrifices and patriotism of retired military personnel, stressing that their welfare remained a priority of the Federal Government.
He said the service and sacrifices of military veterans must be recognised through sustained attention to their legitimate welfare needs and entitlements.
