The Ex-service Men and Family Welfare Association of Nigeria has asked the government to pay all their pension arrears and other entitlements.
Retired Master Warrant Officer Anthony Gbaja Agbas, president of the Welfare Association made the call during a peaceful rally by the ex-service men who besieged the Federal Ministry of Finance, in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said that military pensioners in the country had endured financial hardship and pain over the years.
“We were told the money has been approved for a long time but we have not received anything.
“Our request are Payment of our palliatives and it’s arrears from October 2023 to November 2024, payment of 20 to 28 percent salary increment and its arrears from January to November.
“We also request payment of N32,000 flat payment and the arrears from July to November, payment of the new National Minimum Wage increment and the arrears firm July to November, among others,” he said.
The ministry of finance is receiving a second set of protesting pensioners in one month after the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS) staged a protest 12 November, 2024 over outstanding benefits.
The Association Ex-service Men and Family Welfare Association of Nigeria is an umbrella body made up of several associations of retired member of the Nigerian Armed Forces and their families.
Agbas said the organisation is focused on catering to the welfare of the retired men and the members of their families.
The association’s Vice President, Mr Joseph Chinga, said that the military veteran were patriotic citizens of the country and deserve better.
“We love the country so much, it was our effort that prevented this country from breaking up during the civil war.
“It is also our resilience and doggedness that made terrorist not to take over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and some other state capitals in the country.
“Some of our colleagues lost their lives in trying to achieve this. We are not against the government but only fighting for what belongs to us as was announced by President Bola Tinubu,” Chinga said.
Officials of the Ministry of Finance thereafter addressed the posters, and assured that their request had been approved and was been processed.
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