Military veterans and retirees barricade the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Abuja (including Dutse Alhaji), protesting alleged shortfalls in recent pension adjustments. Multiple outlets report the demonstrators use items such as canopies and chairs to block access, while armed soldiers prevent them from entering the premises.
The protest centers on the formula the board uses to calculate pension increases. Veterans say the method does not adequately reflect salary increases granted to serving military personnel, leading to payment disparities among retirees. Several reports describe the dispute as ongoing and triggered by earlier protests, including a prior demonstration at the Ministry of Defence.
Across the coverage, outlets emphasize that the issue is not only delayed or insufficient payments, but the computation itself. Some reports add that the Defence Minister reportedly assured retirees of pension increases in October, but veterans still reject the board’s calculation approach and call for a review or forensic audit, arguing that some retirees are short-changed.
