Ex-soldiers resume protest in Abuja over unpaid entitlements
A group of Voluntary Discharged Nigerian Soldiers took to the streets of Abuja today to demand payments of their benefits.
Recall that the ex-servicemen had led an earlier protest on August 4 to the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja over unpaid entitlements, barricading the Ministry’s main entrance and demanding payments of their gratuity, Security Debarment Allowance, SDA, and other benefits
The protest was only suspended after representatives of the protesters and the Chairman of the Military Pension Board (MBP) met with officials of the Ministry who assured the ex-soldiers that their outstanding arrears would be paid by August 10.
The former soldiers in today’s protest who converged at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in the nation’s capital, accused the authorities of neglect and failure to honour the promises made during their last meeting in August, stating that they were forced to return to the streets as a result of the negative outcome from previous assurances.
One of the protesters, identified as Mama G said: “We are here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled. We had no choice but to return to the streets. This time around, the protest will be massive.”
The ex-servicemen said the protest was a legitimate demand for their entitlements.
No official response has been issued by the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters and Military Pension Board as at the time of this report.
