The Federal Government has proposed a 53 per cent increase in the 2025 budget allocations for military retirees following a series of protests over unpaid entitlements.
Findings by The PUNCH showed that the total allocation for military pensions is set to rise from N221.66bn in 2024 to N338.90bn in 2025, reflecting an effort to address the demands of retired service personnel who have repeatedly demonstrated at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja.
According to data from the proposed 2025 budget, allocations for military pensions will increase significantly. The breakdown shows N230.32bn for military pensions, N66.85bn for expected retirees this year, and N38.15bn for death benefits, with an unchanged allocation of N3.57bn for the National Health Insurance Scheme for military retirees. In comparison, the 2024 budget allocated N166.53bn for military pensions, N29.49bn for expected retirees, N22.07bn for death benefits, and N3.57bn for NHIS. This increase follows protests by retired military personnel under the Coalition of Military Pensioners. The retirees barricaded the Ministry of Finance at least twice in two months, demanding the payment of outstanding entitlements. Their grievances include the non-payment of a 20 to 28 per cent salary increment for the period from January to November 2024, palliatives for October 2023 to November 2024, and a bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance. They also want a refund of pension deductions from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers, and an additional N32,000 added to their pensions.
On December 5, 2024, the pensioners staged a protest at the ministry, effectively shutting down operations by erecting canopies and chairs at the entrance. Despite assurances from government officials, the pensioners claim their demands have not been met in full.
Speaking to newsmenr, a veteran leader, Chief Aliyu Umar, stated that the government had failed to honour its commitment.
“Do you remember our protest last time? We were promised 50 per cent payment that day and the balance by month’s end. True to the minister’s words, we received the 50 per cent, but since then, nothing more.
“All our efforts to reach the ministry have been futile. We have mobilised across the country and will lock down the Ministry of Finance as we did last time,” he said.
