After protest, CDS assures military retirees of consequential pension rise

Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede has pledged consequential pension increases for military retirees, following a protest at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja. The assurance came a day after retirees rallied against the authorities' failure to implement pension adjustments stemming from recent salary hikes for active-duty personnel, effective from September.

The protest was called off after the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), assured the veterans their demands would be addressed. General Oluyede clarified that adjustments to serving personnel's emoluments will naturally result in increased pensions for veterans, aligning with established policies. The Chief of Defence Staff further affirmed the Defence Headquarters' commitment to enhancing the welfare and dignity of retired military personnel and their families.

The initiatives include collaborating with the Bank of Industry to provide low-interest loans for business ventures by serving and retired personnel and their families. President Bola Tinubu has reportedly provided resources to support these measures honoring veterans' sacrifices.