The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued a stern directive to retired military personnel staging protests at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, urging them to vacate the premises immediately.
The protests, which revolve around unpaid demobilisation and debarment allowances, have frequently disrupted operations at the ministry’s main gate.
At a press briefing in Abuja, Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, described the ongoing demonstrations as baseless, explaining that the veterans’ demands are not supported by current government policy.
“These protests lack merit and have begun to interfere with the normal functioning of the Ministry of Finance,” Kangye said.
He clarified that the calculation of gratuities and allowances is based on two distinct salary charts, tied to the implementation timeline of the new minimum wage. The first chart, known as the pre-minimum wage chart, applied from January 1 to July 28, 2024. The second, the minimum wage chart, took effect on July 29, 2024.
“Entitlements are determined by the salary structure in effect on the date of retirement,” Kangye emphasized. “If a soldier retired before July 29, their benefits cannot be recalculated using the new wage chart that only became valid from that date.”
The protesting retirees, who left service during the pre-minimum wage period, have been demanding recalculations of their benefits using the newer, more favorable chart something the DHQ insists is not legally or administratively possible.
Despite prior briefings to explain the policy, the group continues to stage protests and block access to the Finance Ministry.
While reaffirming the veterans’ right to peaceful protest, Maj-Gen Kangye urged restraint and respect for public institutions. “The Defence Headquarters acknowledges the freedom of legitimate protest, but the veterans are strongly advised to tread with caution and vacate the premises to allow government business to proceed unhindered,” he said.
The DHQ maintains that all policies have effective implementation dates and this situation cannot be treated as an exception.
