Nigerian Military Pensioners Protest Over Delayed Adjustment

• Retired military officers are protesting over non-implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions.
• President Bola Tinubu approved a new salary scale for serving military officers in November 2025, but the adjustment has yet to be implemented for retirees.
• The protest is set to take place at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, with security personnel deployed to maintain order.
• The incident highlights the need for authorities to address the grievances of retired military officers and ensure fair treatment in terms of their pensions.

We have a protest on Wednesday at the Ministry of Defence to demand our constitutional pension rights.

Scores of security personnel from various agencies have been deployed to the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, amidst a planned protest by retired military officers. The heavy deployment is in anticipation of the protest, which is set to take place over the non-implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions. According to reports, President Bola Tinubu recently approved a new salary scale for serving military officers, but the retirees claim they have been left out despite having served the country diligently for 35 years or more.

When our correspondent visited the Ministry of Defence Headquarters on Wednesday morning, several Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and vehicles belonging to various security agencies were counted. Armed soldiers were seen moving around the venue as security operatives took strategic positions along roads leading to the ministry, causing gridlock in the area.

The planned protest by retired military officers is centered on their alleged failure to receive consequential adjustments to their pensions following a salary increase approved for serving military personnel. According to one of the leaders of the retirees, Innocent Azubike, a retired Colonel, the adjustment should have been implemented in November 2025 when President Bola Tinubu approved the new pay increase for the military. However, despite repeated acknowledgements by military authorities of the President's approval, the adjustment has yet to be implemented.

The retirees claim that they are entitled to constitutional pension rights and are demanding what was given to serving personnel. They have stated that there is no going back on their planned protest, which aims to draw attention to their plight.

The ongoing situation at the Ministry of Defence has significant implications for lawyers advising clients on pension matters. The potential disruptions and gridlocks around the ministry could impact their ability to access the ministry for official business or meetings. Furthermore, the protest highlights the need for authorities to address the grievances of retired military officers and ensure that they receive fair treatment in terms of their pensions.

The incident also underscores the importance of effective communication between government agencies and stakeholders, particularly when it comes to matters affecting the welfare of serving and retired personnel.

Lawyers advising clients on pension matters should be aware that the protest by retired military officers may lead to potential disruptions and gridlocks around the Ministry of Defence, which could impact their ability to access the ministry for official business or meetings.

Source: Original reporting via Daily Trust