The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has assured retired military personnel that any adjustment to the salaries and allowances of serving personnel will result in a corresponding increase in their pensions.
Oluyede gave the assurance on Thursday during an engagement with military veterans from the North-East in Yola, Adamawa State.
His statement followed a protest by retired military personnel at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja over the non-implementation of pension adjustments linked to recent salary increases for serving military personnel.
The retirees had demanded that their pensions be reviewed to reflect the latest salary adjustment announced for military personnel, which is expected to take effect in September.
The protest was suspended after the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), assured the veterans that their concerns would be addressed.
Speaking during the Yola engagement, Oluyede said the ongoing salary review for serving personnel was comprehensive and that its implementation had commenced.
He said, “In line with extant policies, adjustments to the emoluments of serving personnel have a consequential increase to the pensions of veterans.”
The CDS also reaffirmed the commitment of the Defence Headquarters to improving the welfare of retired military personnel and their families.
According to him, the military is pursuing various initiatives to support veterans, including a partnership with the Bank of Industry to provide access to low-interest loans for business ventures.
He added that the planned Defence Hospital would allocate part of its services to veterans.
Oluyede said the initiatives had the support of President Bola Tinubu, noting that resources had been made available to strengthen welfare programmes for serving and retired personnel.
The veterans also raised other welfare-related concerns during the meeting, which the CDS promised would receive continued attention.
Speaking for the veterans, the President of the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers Association, Maj-Gen. H.A. Salihu (retd.), thanked the CDS for engaging with them and encouraged retired personnel to support efforts aimed at improving military welfare.
In his remarks, Oluyede praised the veterans for their contributions to national security, saying their service would remain appreciated.
He said, “The uniform may have been taken off, but the nation’s gratitude will never fade.”
