The Defence Headquarters on Wednesday directed protesting military pensioners to vacate the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, saying their actions were disrupting official activities.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, made this known at a press briefing in Abuja. He acknowledged the veterans’ right to protest but urged them to exercise caution and allow normal government functions to continue.
Kangye explained that the grievances arose from the implementation of the new minimum wage in July 2024. He said gratuities and the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) for military retirees are calculated based on the salary structure effective at the time of retirement.
According to him, soldiers who retired between January 1 and July 28, 2024, fall under the “Pre-Minimum Wage Chart,” while those who retired from July 29 onwards are covered by the “Minimum Wage Chart.” He stressed that those who left service before the policy took effect could not have their benefits recalculated under the new wage structure.
The defence spokesperson condemned the repeated protests and barricades by some affected retirees, noting that they had been educated on the implications of the two salary charts.
