Soldiers blocked retired military personnel from protesting over unpaid salary increases at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Wednesday. The protesters demanded the implementation of a salary review approved for military personnel, as well as corresponding adjustments to the pensions of retired officers and soldiers.
Retirees Demand Pension Adjustments
Retired military personnel protested at the Ministry of Defence over the alleged failure of the Federal Government to implement approved salary increases for serving and retired personnel. The protest was met with a heavy security presence as soldiers blocked the ex-servicemen from accessing the ministry premises.
One of the protesters, who wished to remain anonymous, questioned the soldiers who prevented them from staging the demonstration. "We are sick; we need medical help. It is not well; the system is wrong," he stated. Another demonstrator explained that their grievance centred on what they described as the failure to implement a legally approved salary adjustment.
Salary Review Delayed
The protesters claimed that the latest salary review must also reflect in the pensions of those who left service earlier. They argued that excluding pensioners from the financial calculations for the latest adjustment could create a widening gap between the pensions of older retirees and those who retired more recently. The protesters called for the government to implement the approved adjustments and ensure that retired personnel receive pensions that reflect the changes in military pay.
The protest comes weeks after the Federal Government announced a major salary increase for members of the Armed Forces. On August 4, 2026, the Ministry of Defence announced that President Tinubu had approved a 30 to 80 per cent salary increase for military personnel, with the new structure scheduled to take effect from September 1, 2026. The adjustment is expected to benefit about 250,000 personnel.
Earlier Salary Adjustments
The latest dispute also comes against the backdrop of earlier salary adjustments. In 2024, the Federal Government approved a 25 to 35 per cent increase for personnel under the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure, alongside other public service salary structures. The government also approved pension increases of between 20 and 28 per cent for retirees under the Defined Benefits Scheme affected by the salary review.
The protesters said that the approval of a new minimum wage of 180,000 has further highlighted the need for the implementation of the approved salary increase. They claimed that the new pronouncement has made the delay in implementing the salary review even more unacceptable.
Demands for Pension Adjustments
The protesters called for the government to implement the approved adjustments and ensure that retired personnel receive pensions that reflect the changes in military pay. They also demanded that the government should not exclude pensioners from the financial calculations for the latest adjustment. The protesters argued that this could create a widening gap between the pensions of older retirees and those who retired more recently.
The Ministry of Defence has yet to comment on the protest. The protesters have vowed to continue their demonstrations until their demands are met. The situation remains tense, with the protesters and the security forces locked in a standoff over the implementation of the approved salary increase.
Source: Pulse.ng
