The Federal Government has commenced the payment of pensions and other entitlements to retired military personnel, including three months’ arrears.
This announcement was made by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in a statement issued on Thursday, December 6, in Abuja by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike.
The move follows protests from retired military personnel, who had gathered at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja earlier that day to express their frustration over the non-payment of their entitlements.
The retirees had been particularly vocal about the government’s failure to fulfil a promised salary increment of 20% to 28% from January to November 2024.
Their demands also included overdue palliative payments for the period of October 2023 to November 2024, a N32,000 increase to their pensions, the bulk payment of Security Debarment Allowance, and the refund of pension deductions made from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.
In response, Minister Matawalle confirmed that the government had begun the payment of the military salary increases and that many retired personnel had already received payment alerts. He further clarified that President Bola Tinubu had released funds on Thursday for the settlement of pension arrears and other entitlements.
The Defence Minister commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of both serving and retired military personnel, noting that the government would continue to prioritise the payment of arrears. He expressed gratitude for the President’s decisive action, which he said demonstrated a firm dedication to improving the living standards of those who have served the nation.
Matawalle also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, for his significant contribution to ensuring the payments were processed.
In his remarks, Matawalle urged the Nigerian military to remain steadfast in their duties, reassuring them that the President was fully committed to boosting their morale and providing the necessary support in the fight against insecurity. “Despite initial setbacks, President Tinubu will do everything within his power to uplift our military forces as they confront the challenges of insecurity,” he said.
The Minister concluded by emphasising the crucial role of both retired and serving military personnel in safeguarding Nigeria’s security, particularly in the ongoing battle against insurgency. He assured them of the President’s continued support to eradicate insecurity and uphold the resilience of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
