Military retirees on Tuesday blocked the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, protesting what they described as an unfair formula for calculating pension adjustments.
The veterans barricaded the entrance with canopies and chairs, while armed soldiers prevented them from entering the premises.
The protest comes weeks after retired military personnel demonstrated at the Ministry of Defence in September, demanding a pension increase following salary adjustments for serving military officers.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, reportedly assured the retirees that their pensions would increase in October.
However, the latest protest highlights veterans’ ongoing dissatisfaction with how the promised adjustments are being implemented.
Speaking in an interview with a newsmen on Monday, the Coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lt. Col. Innocent Azubike, had accused the Military Pensions Board of adopting a calculation formula that allegedly short-changed some retirees.
Azubike said the planned demonstration stemmed from growing frustration over the implementation of consequential pension adjustments.
The retirees argue that the formula used to calculate the increases does not adequately reflect the salary adjustments granted to serving military personnel.
The veterans are demanding a review of the calculation method to ensure retired personnel receive pension adjustments that properly reflect changes to serving officers’ salaries.
The dispute has renewed concerns over the welfare of retired military personnel, many of whom depend on their pensions to meet their daily needs after years of service.
The Military Pensions Board has not been quoted in response to the latest allegations. It was also unclear whether the protest had disrupted office operations or whether officials had begun discussions with the demonstrators.