Tension broke out in Abuja on Wednesday as armed police officers and soldiers prevented retired military personnel from gathering in front of the Ministry of Defence to protest the non-implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions.
The ex-servicemen had converged in the area as part of a planned demonstration over pension adjustments arising from salary increases approved for serving military personnel.
However, their attempt to move towards the front of the ministry was met with a heavy security presence, with armed police and soldiers deployed to stop them from assembling at the location.
The development followed an earlier confrontation between the retired personnel and serving soldiers after security operatives attempted to prevent the protesters from staging their demonstration at the ministry.
The confrontation reportedly occurred as the ex-servicemen tried to gather within the premises, with soldiers moving against them to stop the planned protest.
The retirees are demanding the implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions following salary increases granted to serving military personnel.
They argue that the pension adjustments arising from the salary review should also be implemented for retired military personnel.
As tensions mounted, additional security personnel were mobilised to the ministry, effectively preventing the ex-servicemen from converging at the front of the building as planned.
The heavy security presence left the retirees unable to stage their demonstration at the ministry’s entrance, where they had intended to press their demands.
The confrontation highlights the growing frustration among retired military personnel over what they consider delays in implementing pension adjustments linked to improved remuneration for serving members of the armed forces.
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