TheCable

A coalition of military and federal universities pensioners are currently laying siege to the road leading to Aso Villa, demanding payment of their pension arrears.

The military pensioners in particular said they had decided not to stop their public protests until the government responds to their demand.

“We are ready to die here. It is better they bury us,” leader of the protest, Azubuike Nass, retired colonel, told TheCable.

The military pensioners have been protesting consistently for the payment of their pension arrears and harmonisation of their pensions with the current salaries of their colleagues who are still in service.

Their last protest was in August when minister of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, assured them that the government would look into their matter.

“We have exhausted patience. They keep making promises which they never fulfil,” Mr. Gabriel Oiakhena, a retired soldier, said as the protesters chanted solidarity songs.

Master warrant officer (rtd) Samuel Unubi, who heads the Abuja zone of military pensioners, added that the pensioners were being “neglected and forgotten after sacrificing ourselves for this nation.”

Tempers were soon flying, as the pensioners began expressing their anguish to minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who attended to them.

“They say our money is not captured in the budget. But Ebola came and it was captured. Where did the money come from?” a protester screamed.

Speaking to journalists after conferring with leaders of the protest, the minister gave assurances that the demands of the military pensioners would be looked into.

“This is a democracy, we have spoken with the group. And we assured them that matter would be worked out,” he said.

Responding, Azubuike said the protesters would hold the government to its word.

“They told us to give them a week to sort out the issue. We will give them time,” he said.

“If they fail, we will be back here on October 1.”