Retired Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, under the auspices of the Coalition of Military Pensioners in Abuja have shut down the Federal Ministry of Finance on Thursday, over non-payment of their 20% to 28% salary increment from January to November 2024.
The officers who mobilized from different chapters lamented the failure of the Federal Government to pay them their entitlements.
Their demands include non-payment of palliatives from October 2023 to November 2024, N32,000 added pension arrears, unpaid Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) in bulk and withheld refund of deductions made from the pensions of medically boarded soldiers, among others.
The Senate in late 2023, announced plans to launch full investigation into the Military Pensions Board after it resumes from recess.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Olamilekan Adeola, made the announcement during the defence of the budget report by the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service.
During the session, an additional fund totaling N20bn was requested for, towards the construction of a office building for the military pensions board, as well as the renovation of the phase 1 to 4 of the federal secretariat.
The Chairman questioned the operations of the board, its budget and the number of retirees who reportedly receive payment.