Retired soldiers storm Abuja, protest over unpaid allowances

Hundreds of retired soldiers have taken to the streets of Abuja to demand the immediate payment of their outstanding entitlements, including gratuity, parking allowance, and Security Debarment Allowance (SDA).

The protesters, who were first and second quarter voluntary discharged soldiers of 2023, barricaded the main gate of the Federal Ministry of Finance on Monday.

*“We’re Fighting for Our Entitlements”

Corporal Eze Moses, one of the retired soldiers, expressed frustration over the non-payment of their entitlements.

“We served the army for years, and our entitlements have not been paid. We don’t want to be tempted to commit crimes. If almost 1,000 of us should go and carry arms, I think the country will turn to slavery, and we don’t want that. We want to beg for our entitlements to be paid,” Moses said.

Staff-Sergeant Simeon David said they had been short paid for some time now.

“Instead of them to calculate it well with the new rate, they used the old rate. They have been promising to pay and we have been waiting patiently to see what they are going to do. Up till now, we have not heard from them, so we have to come and see by ourselves,” he said.

Corporal Umar Umar expressed disappointment over the Military Pensions Board’s decision to deny them the new national minimum wage adjustments.

“This is unacceptable. We gave our best years to the nation. Many of us are suffering while the system continues to deny us what is rightfully ours. This is a deliberate neglect,” Umar said.

The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, assured the retired soldiers that the government would look into their demands. The protesters hope that their plight will be addressed soon.

The retired soldiers are desperate for relief and want their entitlements paid immediately.

They are seeking justice and fairness in the payment of their gratuity, parking allowance, and SDA .