FCT: Retired soldiers storm finance ministry over pension arrears, others

RETIRED soldiers, on Wednesday, stormed the Ministry of Finance, Abuja, to register their grievances over the treatment, unbefitting of senior citizens, being meted to them by the government.

Though the retirees presented several demands to the ministry, they noted that the protest was particularly about the non-payment of their pension arrears.

They also demanded the inclusion of officers who fought in the civil war in the military pension scheme.

Speaking during the protest, the President, Ex-servicemen and Family Welfare Association, Anthony Agbas, said the ex-servicemen want a stop on all deductions on the pensions of all retired military officers.

He equally demanded the payment of the minimum wage arrears accruing to them since 2019.

Agbas delivered a letter to officials of the finance ministry while expressing the hope that their demands would be met without delay.

He said, “We veterans of the Nigerian armed forces are appealing to the President to graciously approve the payment of the minimum wage arrears of pension (20 months), which was approved since April 2019.

“The government should pay the retired officers and soldiers who are still alive security debarment allowances and not a selected few from November 2017 till date as was done by the Ministry of Defence.”