The Retired Nigerian Soldiers lamented what they described as broken promises and a lack of appreciation for their sacrifices. According to them, the continued withholding of their benefits is not only unjust but also demoralizing for both serving and retired personnel.
A group of retired Nigerian Army personnel who opted for voluntary retirement in the latter half of 2023 gathered in a peaceful demonstration on Monday outside the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding immediate settlement of their unpaid benefits.
The demonstration, which drew attention from bystanders and civil servants alike, was aimed at urging the Federal Government to urgently pay their long-overdue entitlements. The protesting ex-servicemen expressed dismay over the government’s continued silence and delay in fulfilling its financial obligations to them, despite their loyal and sacrificial service to the nation.
The protest was organized to demand the immediate settlement of their outstanding entitlements, which they claim the federal government has failed to honour months after their official disengagement from active duty.
The ex-servicemen, who formally retired from the Nigerian Army on July 1, 2024, gathered with placards and banners boldly stating their grievances and outlining specific demands.
Among their key demands are the full payment of their gratuities, adjustment of their Salary Deductions Allowance (SDA) in line with the recently approved national minimum wage, disbursement of contributions to the military housing scheme, release of funds from the Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme (NAWIS) and the Benevolent Fund (BenFund), and the payment of their pending packing allowance.
Many of the retirees, some of whom dedicated decades of their lives in service to the nation, expressed deep frustration over the delayed payment.
They lamented what they described as broken promises and a lack of appreciation for their sacrifices. According to them, the continued withholding of their benefits is not only unjust but also demoralizing for both serving and retired personnel.
The protest remained peaceful as the ex-soldiers called on the government to act swiftly and fulfil its obligations, warning that further delays could dampen morale within the armed forces and erode trust in the military’s welfare administration.