Retired Nigerian soldiers on Thursday blocked the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja to protest delays in the release of funds to the Military Pensions Board (MPB) for payment of their outstanding entitlements.
The pensioners said they resorted to protest after officials of the ministry failed to honour assurances that their benefits would be paid by August 10.
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It will be recalled that the ex-servicemen had suspended a similar protest on August 4 after a meeting with officials of the ministries of defence and finance, where they were promised that the backlog of payments would be cleared.
Speaking to journalists, one of the protesters, simply identified as Mama G, said the renewed demonstration was prompted by the government’s failure to act on its commitments.
“We are here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled. We had no choice but to return to the streets. This time around, the protest will be massive,” she said.
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In recent years, the senior citizens have staged several protests in Abuja and other cities, lamenting pension delays and accusing authorities of neglect.
As of press time, the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, and the Military Pensions Board had yet to respond to the protest.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
