Military Veterans Protest Pension Underpayment in Abuja

On Tuesday morning, military veterans, led by Lt. Col. Innocent Azubuike, coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, protested at the Military Pensions Board in Abuja. They accused the board of using a pension computation formula that allegedly reduced the percentage increases approved for retired personnel.

Azubuike stated that the approved adjustments included an 80 percent increase for personnel from private to staff sergeant, 50 percent for warrant officers to colonels, and 30 percent for brigadier generals and higher ranks. He claimed the board failed to apply these percentages directly to the pensions veterans were receiving, instead using a calculation method that undermined their entitlements.

Azubuike noted that they had previously approached the Ministry of Defence in August regarding their exclusion from salary-related adjustments, which the ministry acknowledged. However, the Military Pensions Board allegedly introduced a calculation method that did not follow the approved increases.

Approximately 100,000 military veterans are affected by this issue.