Military retirees on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, barricaded the entrance to the Military Pensions Board office in Abuja to protest against the formula adopted for adjusting their pensions.
The protesters gathered at the board’s office in Dutse Alhaji, using canopies and chairs to block the entrance and restrict access to the premises. Armed soldiers were stationed at the gate to prevent the retirees from entering the office.
The demonstration comes weeks after retired military personnel staged a protest at the Ministry of Defence in September, demanding an increase in their pensions following salary adjustments for serving members of the Armed Forces.
Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), had reportedly assured the retirees in August that their pensions would be increased in October following President Bola Tinubu’s approval of salary increments for serving military personnel.
However, the retirees have expressed dissatisfaction with the formula adopted by the Military Pensions Board to calculate the adjustments, alleging that the method has short-changed them.
Coordinator of the Veterans Association of Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Azubike (retd.), said the protest followed growing frustration among retired personnel over the implementation of the consequential adjustments.
The retirees argue that the calculation method has failed to adequately reflect the salary increases granted to serving military personnel and are demanding a fairer review of their pension payments.
The protest highlights the continuing disagreement between military veterans and the authorities over the implementation of the promised pension adjustments, with the retirees insisting that their entitlements should reflect the approved salary increments.
As of the time of reporting, the Military Pensions Board had yet to publicly respond to the latest protest.
