The Federal Government, on Friday, began the payment of outstanding entitlements of military retirees.
The retirees had for months been told that there was no fund to settle their entitlements, despite approval for payment.
The retirees were owed a 20% to 28% salary increment covering January to November 2024.
Frustrated by repeated unfulfilled assurances, the retirees, on Thursday, shut down the Ministry of Finance, demanding immediate payment of their pensions and other outstanding benefits.
The protesters arrived with chairs, canopies, and sleeping mats, demonstrating their determination.
Some of the demands of the retirees included overdue payments for palliatives from October 2023 to November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and a refund of pension deductions from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.
GTN gathered that after their demonstrations, some of the retirees had begun receiving their long-overdue benefits.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustee, Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herbert confirmed that they had started receiving their benefits.
“We have started recieving our benefits that was why the protest did not hold today,” he confirmed to newsmen
The Minister of Defence for State, Bello Matawalle, commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of both serving and retired military personnel, stating that the payment of pension arrears owed to retirees would continue to receive critical attention.
Matawalle, in a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, also announced that the government had commenced the payment of the three-month salary increase for military personnel.
“Matawalle confirmed that alerts regarding the three-month salary increase for military personnel have begun to be received.,” the statement partly read.
