FG Bows To Pressure, Pays Ex-Military Officers’ Entitlements

The Federal Government has begun the payment of outstanding entitlements of military retirees.

Osun Defender reports that the retirees had for months been told that there was no fund to settle their entitlements, despite approval for payment.

The development led to the shutting of the Ministry of Finance by the retired military officers on Thursday in protest.

The retirees, according to report, were owed 20% to 28% salary increment covering January to November 2024.

The retirees, during the protest, demanded immediate payment of their pensions and other outstanding benefits.

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The protesters arrived with chairs, canopies, and sleeping mats, demonstrating their determination.

Some of the demands of the retirees included overdue payments for palliatives from October 2023 to November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and a refund of pension deductions from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.

According to report, some of the retirees had begun receiving their long-overdue benefits, after their demonstrations.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herbert, confirmed that they had started receiving their benefits.

“We have started receiving our benefits. That was why the protest did not hold today,” he confirmed to our correspondent.

The Minister of Defence for State, Bello Matawalle, commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of both serving and retired military personnel, stating that the payment of pension arrears owed to retirees would continue to receive critical attention.

Matawalle, in a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, also announced that the government had commenced the payment of the three-month salary increase for military personnel.

“Matawalle confirmed that alerts regarding the three-month salary increase for military personnel have begun to be received.,” the statement partly read.