Military retirees on Tuesday barricaded the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, protesting the formula adopted for adjusting their pensions.
The protesters reportedly used canopies and chairs to obstruct access to the premises, while armed soldiers prevented them from entering the office.
The demonstration comes weeks after retired military personnel staged a protest at the Ministry of Defence in September, demanding improved pensions following salary increases for serving military officers.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, had reportedly assured the retirees that their pensions would be adjusted in October.
However, the veterans have expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed adjustments, alleging that the calculation method adopted by the pensions board does not adequately reflect the salary increases granted to serving personnel.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, the Coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Azubike, accused the board of using a formula that short-changed some retirees.
Azubike said the planned demonstration was driven by growing concerns among veterans over the implementation of the consequential pension adjustments.
According to him, the retirees believe the formula fails to ensure that their pension payments adequately reflect the salary changes introduced for serving military personnel.
The latest protest highlights the ongoing disagreement between military retirees and the authorities over the implementation of the promised pension increases.
The military pensions board and the Federal Government are yet to be quoted responding to the retirees’ latest allegations in the report.
Further details are expected to emerge.
