THE Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the welfare, remuneration and pension concerns of military veterans, assuring that their grievances were receiving urgent attention.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), who gave the assurance on Wednesday, August 19, when representatives of military veterans paid a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Defence, Ship House, Abuja, said the welfare of veterans remained a priority of the Federal Government, as concerns over wage and pension adjustments were receiving urgent attention from relevant military, pension and financial authorities.
An official statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, H.O. Ogubike, the minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Richard Pheelangwah, while acknowledging the sacrifices and distinguished service of military veterans to the country, said ongoing engagements were aimed at achieving a fair, sustainable and implementable resolution that would ensure veterans were not unfairly disadvantaged.
He appealled to the veterans to remain calm and patient, and sustain constructive engagement with the authorities, as discussions continue on the issues raised, noting that dialogue remained the most effective means of resolving outstanding concerns, while preserving the dignity, honour and mutual respect befitting Nigerians who had served the country.
He stated that any adjustment to veterans’ entitlements must be properly computed, adequately funded and implemented in line with extant approvals, regulations and due process, saying adherence to the required procedures would ensure the sustainability of any adjustment and prevent unintended disparities in the implementation of veterans’ entitlements.
Musa assured the veterans that the ministry would continue to engage their representatives and provide appropriate updates as efforts progress on resolving their concerns.
The minister restated the Federal Government’s appreciation of the patriotism, courage and sacrifices of military veterans, saying their service to the country must be recognised not only through words, but also through sustained attention to their welfare and legitimate entitlements.
The military retirees, who embarked on a protest in Abuja over the “non-implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions,” were prevented by soldiers from staging the protest at the Defence building.
The retired soldiers had converged on an open field near the ministry, holding banners with various inscriptions as they made their way to the ministry’s main gate when soldiers, joined by Police and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), cordoned off the area and blocking roads around the ministry with tanks and other security vehicles to prevent the pensioners from accessing the premises.
The veterans subsequently moved to the road median, where they spoke to journalists about their grievances.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu recently approved a 30 per cent salary increase for officers above the rank of colonel, including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals, while those from the rank of colonel to warrant officer will receive a 50 per cent increase, and those from private to staff sergeant will benefit from an 80 per cent increase.
Speaking on behalf of the veterans, Innocent Anas, a retired lieutenant colonel, said retired military personnel were entitled to consequential adjustments whenever the salaries of serving personnel were increased.
He stated: “We have paid our dues in patriotic service to this nation. There is a constitutional provision that when you increase the pay of any personnel, there should be a consequential allowance, consequential adjustment for pensioners.
“A couple of sergeants who retired recently could be receiving a pension higher than that of a captain who retired 10 years back, and they served the same military.”
Anas said the pensioners were particularly concerned that a salary increase approved for military and paramilitary personnel in November last year was yet to reflect in their pensions, adding: “This is August 2026, they have not implemented it, as if it’s a scam, and then a new pronouncement comes up again.”
Anas said any implementation of the new salary structure should include a corresponding adjustment for pensioners, in line with the constitution and Armed Forces Act, noting: “If they want to implement it by law, Constitution and the Armed Forces Act, there should be a consequential adjustment that is an increase in the pay of pensioners to meet up to par.”
He alleged that pensioners were excluded from the computation of funds required to implement the latest salary adjustment, noting: “You are depriving them of their constitutional and legal right.”
Warning that failure to adjust pensions would widen the disparity between earlier and more recent retirees, Anas stated: “What it means is that as a retired lieutenant colonel, I retired many years ago, my pension could be the equivalent of a lieutenant who retired just recently, because they don’t want to do the adjustment that is constitutional and legal.”
He vowed that the protesters would march to the Presidential Villa in the coming days if their demands are not addressed.
