Defence minister meets ex-servicemen, promises to address demands

The Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Musa, met with retired military personnel on Wednesday and pledged to address their demands concerning pension adjustments and other welfare issues. The meeting took place despite a significant security presence surrounding the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, where the veterans had planned to protest. Musa, represented by the Permanent Secretary Richard Pheelangwah, assured the protesters that the government was committed to resolving their concerns.

The ex-servicemen are seeking the implementation of adjustments to their pensions following recent salary increases granted to serving military personnel. Gen. Musa acknowledged the sacrifices made by retired military personnel and emphasized that their welfare remained a priority for the Federal Government. He stated that measures related to wage and pension adjustments are being given "urgent attention," and relevant authorities are being consulted to reach a fair, sustainable, and implementable resolution.

The Minister appealed to the protesters to maintain calm and engage in dialogue, stating that persistent engagement was the most effective approach to resolving the outstanding issues. He highlighted that any adjustments to veterans' entitlements must be computed accurately, adequately funded, and implemented in accordance with existing approvals, regulations, and due process.

Earlier, the planned protest was disrupted by the heavy deployment of security forces around the Ministry of Defence. The veterans had gathered outside the premises to protest the alleged neglect of pension adjustments arising from the salary increases for serving military personnel. One of the protest leaders, Col. Innocent Azubike, stated that the retirees were not opposed to the salary increases for serving personnel but demanded corresponding adjustments to their pensions.

He also raised concerns about the latest salary increase announced for military personnel in August 2026, which was expected to take effect in September. Colonel Azubike alleged that pensioners were excluded from the computation, causing dissatisfaction among the veterans.