By Our Reporter
A group of retired Nigerian soldiers, under the banner of Voluntarily Discharged Soldiers, staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja on Monday, demanding the immediate payment of their outstanding entitlements.
The ex-servicemen and women, who retired from the Nigerian Army in the first and second quarters of 2024, blocked access to the ministry from as early as 7 a.m., leaving staff stranded for hours. Clad in military camouflage and chanting solidarity songs, the protesters carried placards bearing messages such as: “We are living heroes, not to be remembered only when we are gone,” and “Pay our gratuity shortfalls, four months’ salary cuts, SDA, and other allowances now!”
They accused the government of neglect and demanded the full payment of their gratuity, four months’ withheld salaries, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and other pending benefits.
The ex-soldiers claimed that after jeopardising their lives for the nation, all they received was abandonment and that they had been patient enough for the Federal Government.