Discharged Soldiers Stage Fresh Protest Over Unpaid Entitlements

Discharged Nigerian soldiers on Thursday staged another protest in Abuja, insisting on the payment of their outstanding entitlements.

The ex-servicemen, who gathered at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory, accused authorities of failing to honour commitments made during earlier negotiations.

Their renewed protest comes less than a month after they suspended a similar action on August 4, following a meeting with officials of the Ministries of Defence and Finance. At the time, they were assured that payments would be made by August 10.

One of the protesters, identified as Mama G, said frustration over unfulfilled promises forced them back to protest. “We are here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled. We had no choice but to return to the protest. This time around, the protest will be massive,” she declared.

The demonstration underscores a long-running grievance. In recent years, retired and discharged soldiers have repeatedly staged protests in Abuja and other parts of the country, citing neglect and unfair treatment by the authorities.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, and the Military Pension Board had not issued an official response.