Retired military personnel on Wednesday, August 19, staged a protest in Abuja over the alleged failure of the Federal Government to implement consequential adjustments to their pensions following salary increases approved for serving military personnel.
The pensioners gathered at an open field in Area 10, Garki, near the Ministry of Defence, carrying placards and calling on the government to implement the outstanding adjustments.
President Bola Tinubu had approved a new salary structure for serving military personnel to improve their welfare and boost performance across the country’s various theatres of operation. Under the new arrangement, personnel from the rank of Colonel to Warrant Officer were approved for a 50 per cent increase, while those from Staff Sergeant to Private were to receive an 80 per cent increase.
The protesters, comprising retired personnel from the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Vehicle Inspection Officers and other agencies, argued that they should also benefit from the adjustments after serving the country for 35 years or more.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, retired Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Anas said pensioners were legally entitled to consequential adjustments whenever the salaries of serving personnel were increased.
Anas said the salary increase approved for military and paramilitary personnel in November 2025 had yet to be reflected in the pensions of retired personnel.
“Since last year, November last year, Mr President approved the new salary increase for the military and the paramilitary. It’s been in the news all over. November last year, this is August this year; they have not implemented it,” he said.
He argued that the failure to implement the adjustments amounted to denying retired personnel their constitutional and legal rights.
According to Anas, pension payments should be reviewed alongside the latest salary structure to ensure retirees are not disadvantaged.
“We have paid our dues in patriotic service to this nation. There is a constitutional provision that when you increase the pay of any personnel, there should be a consequential allowance, consequential adjustment for pensioners,” he said.
Anas warned that continued failure to adjust pensions could create significant disparities among retirees, with recently retired personnel of lower ranks potentially earning higher pensions than officers who retired years earlier.
