DHQ orders retired soldiers protesting at finance ministry to vacate premises

The defence headquarters (DHQ) has ordered retired soldiers protesting at the federal ministry of finance in Abuja to vacate the premises.

Some of retired soldiers, who voluntarily exited the Nigerian army in 2024, returned to the streets last month to demand payment of their entitlements.

The retired soldiers accused the government of neglecting them and failing to pay their benefits.

Reacting to the protest, Markus Kangye, director of defence media operations, said the veterans had already been educated on the issue.

Kangye noted that the agitation arose from the introduction of two salary charts for military personnel in 2024 following the implementation of the new minimum wage.

He said a “pre-minimum wage chart” was effective from January 1 to July 28, 2024, while a “minimum wage chart” took effect from July 29, 2024, and remains applicable.

“The actions of these protesting soldiers are seriously affecting the smooth conduct of activities at the ministry of finance,” Kangye said.

“While the defence headquarters acknowledges the right to legitimate protest, the veterans are strongly advised to tread with caution and vacate the premises of the federal ministry of finance to allow government functions to continue seamlessly.

“This is the message we have been directed to pass on, so that through your medium, our veterans and the Nigerian public can be properly informed.

“Let me reaffirm that the armed forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to their constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of our great nation, supporting civil authorities in maintaining internal security, and ensuring peace and stability across all regions.”

Kangye added that gratuity and security debarment allowance are calculated based on the salary chart takes effect on the date of retirement.

“Before the implementation of the new minimum wage, there was a chart on which gratuity and security debarment allowance for soldiers was calculated, and later, the minimum wage chart,” Kangye said.

“Essentially, there were two charts in 2024. The first, known as the pre-minimum wage chart, was effective from January 1, 2024, to July 28, 2024. This was the chart used to calculate the emoluments of retired soldiers and other military personnel.

“The second was the minimum wage chart, which took effect from July 29, 2024, and remains applicable to date. Now, the calculation of gratuity and security debarment allowance for military personnel is based on the salary chart in effect on the date of retirement.

“Unfortunately, the soldiers who retired between January 1 and July 28, 2024, before the implementation of the new minimum wage, want their gratuity and allowances calculated based on the new chart. This cannot be done because the policy only came into effect on July 29.

“Those who fall within the pre-minimum wage chart category are the soldiers who have continued to protest and block access to the federal ministry of finance, despite repeated explanations from the defence headquarters.”