Veterans and ex-service men of the Nigerian Army, on Wednesday, protest failure of the federal government to pay their minimum wage arrears and other welfare packages.
The aged protesters, in their numbers, held a peaceful demonstration at the Federal Ministry of Finance, in Abuja, singing war songs.
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Some of them, tying a black bandana on their arm, held banners and placards to showcase their grievance.
A banner read: “Pay us our adjusted salary arrears of minimum wage approved since may 2019, Veterans are dying.”
Another stated: “Our appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to gracious pay all ex-officers and soldiers their security department allowance.”
Speaking on behalf of the group, the President, Ex-service men and Family Welfare Association, Mwo Anthony Agbas, stated that the protest is to appeal to the federal government to improve their welfare as they are suffering from neglect.
Agbas, while noting that some servicemen, who fought during the Nigerian Civil war, are yet to be enrolled in pension, pleaded for payment of their Security Department Allowance (SDA).
While explaining that SDA is a money paid to service men not to use their military prowess against the country after retirement, he said only a selected few are being paid from November 2017 to date by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
“We are graciously asking for the payment of Minimum wage areas of pension (20 months), which was approved since April 2019 to pay retired officers and Soldiers of the armed forces of Nigeria still alive.”
The veteran also decried deduction of pension of medically discharged officers and soldiers.
“We want the refund of money deducted from the pension of medically discharge officers and soldiers who have been receiving pension for over 40 years.
“They spent their youthful years to fight the Nigerian civil war to unite this country to remain one and indivisible country.
“Sadly, some of them are receiving N10, 000 as pensions and were told they were overpaid since the last 40 years.
“We also appeal to the president to approve the inclusion of retired officers and soldiers, who fought during the Nigerian Civil War but not on pension, but you asked Military Pension Board (MPB) to verify them in October 2015, [in the pension scheme].”
“These retired officers and soldiers are suffering.
“You know what we went through during the Nigerian Civil war.
“As veterans, we will never do anything that will undermine the security of our dear country,” he said.
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