Battle-Hardened And Betrayed: Military Veterans Storm Finance Ministry Over Unpaid Entitlements

Some retired military personnel, on Monday, barricaded the main entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja in a bold protest against the non-payment of their statutory entitlements, ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE.

The aggrieved ex-servicemen—many donning military camouflage—demanded the immediate release of their long-overdue gratuities, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and Parking Allowance.

The demonstration temporarily halted official activities at the ministry and attracted attention from both security operatives and concerned onlookers, ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE.

Retired Corporal Umar Faruq, speaking on behalf of the protesters, revealed that the Military Pensions Board (MPB) claimed the retirees were not eligible for the new national minimum wage adjustments due to their disengagement date of July 1, 2024.

He described the decision as a “deliberate neglect,” stressing that those who gave their lives to national service are now being treated unfairly.

“This is unacceptable. We gave our best years to the nation. Many of us are suffering while the system continues to deny us what is rightfully ours,” Faruq lamented.

Despite the intervention of a senior military officer attempting to pacify the crowd, the veterans stood their ground, vowing not to leave until their demands were met.

As of press time, no official response had been issued by the Ministry of Finance or the Military Pensions Board, ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”