Retired Soldiers Demand Pension Adjustments Amid Salary Hikes

Retired soldiers in Nigeria, led by retired Colonel Innocent Azubike, are demanding adjustments to their pensions in light of recent salary increases for serving military personnel. The protesters argue that the failure to adjust pensions alongside these salary hikes has created significant disparities, with some newly retired junior personnel earning more than senior officers who retired years earlier.

Azubike emphasized that the constitutional and legal right to a consequential adjustment in pensions is enshrined in the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act. He highlighted that the disparity has become more pronounced following a salary increase approved by President Bola Tinubu in November 2025, which had not been implemented by August 2026.

The retired colonel stated that pensioners were excluded from the fund computation necessary for implementing the new pay structure, further widening the gap between older and newer retirees. The protesters seek recognition of their legal entitlement, insisting that their inclusion in the fund computation is not a favor but a right.