Military veterans protest pension adjustment formulas in Abuja

Military veterans in Abuja staged protests at the Military Pensions Board (MPB) headquarters, barricading entrances with chairs and canopies to demand a review of pension adjustment formulas. Led by the Veterans Association of Nigeria and the Coalition of Concerned Veterans, retirees allege that the current calculation method fails to reflect the recent salary increases granted to active-duty personnel.

Veterans claim the implementation of the new national minimum wage and consequential allowances has resulted in payments that fall short of their expectations, with some reporting discrepancies of N20,000 to N40,000. The protesters are seeking parity between their payouts and the updated pay scales of serving members of the Armed Forces.

In response, MPB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mikail Abdulraheem held meetings with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and veteran representatives. Abdulraheem clarified that the board follows a graduated formula based on years of service and utilizes salary structures provided by the NSIWC rather than determining rates independently. He has urged veterans to submit their records to allow for an examination of any discrepancies between expected and received amounts.