Security beefed up at Defence ministry as retired military officers stage protest

Scores of security personnel from various Nigerian agencies are currently stationed at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja as a precautionary measure ahead of a scheduled protest by retired military officers. The protest is a result of the retired officers' claim that consequential adjustments to their pensions, following recent salary increments for serving military personnel, have not been implemented.

President Bola Tinubu recently approved a new salary scale for serving military officers, aiming to improve their performance across all operational theaters. However, the retired military officers argue that this increment should have included a corresponding adjustment in pensions for those who have served the country for 35 years or more, across all ranks.

Upon visiting the Ministry of Defence headquarters on Wednesday morning, Daily Trust counted more than 18 vehicles belonging to the police, Army, Immigration, VIO, NSCDC, FRSC, and other security agencies, as well as three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) belonging to the military. Armed soldiers were seen moving around the venue, with security operatives taking positions along roads leading to the protest site, causing significant traffic congestion in the area.

Despite the protest not having begun at the time of filing this report, the retired military officers remain committed to their cause, stating that they will proceed with the protest "no going back." A retired Master Warrant Officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration over the military's reluctance to address the issue, attributing it to political interference.

He praised General Christopher Musa for his willingness to consider the welfare of both serving and retired personnel but criticized those around him for impeding progress.

The retired officers argue that the protest aims to draw attention to the alleged failure of authorities to implement consequential adjustments to their pensions, following the salary increases approved for serving military personnel. One of the leaders of the retirees, Innocent Azubike, a retired Colonel, emphasized that the protest demands what he describes as the constitutional pension rights of military retirees.

Azubike pointed out that President Tinubu approved a salary increase for military personnel in November 2025, which was accompanied by a consequential adjustment in pensions for retired personnel. However, he alleged that despite repeated acknowledgments of the President's approval, the adjustment had yet to be implemented, and the authorities started changing their stories, as if the issue should be forgotten.