Communication gap responsible for retired soldiers’ protest — Military pensions board

The Military Pensions Board (MPB) has attributed Monday’s protest in Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by retired soldiers to a breakdown in communication, which was already being addressed squarely.

The Public Relations Officer of the Board, Squadron Leader Ahmed Mohammad, who clarified in response to the protest, explained that the demonstration stemmed from a communication gap between relevant authorities and the aggrieved retired soldiers.

He pointed out that some of the grievances raised by the protesting ex-servicemen were beyond the statutory mandate of the Military Pensions Board.

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“For instance, the issue of parking allowances has to do with the respective services. Our brief is basically to pay pensions and gratuities. The Security Debarment Allowance is for the Defence Headquarters, so it is also not the Military Pension Board’s responsibility.

“The shortfall they are claiming is not the fault of the authorities because they retired when the budget for the fiscal year was already running and the new minimum wage was not captured in the budget, so there was no way they would have been paid when there was no running budget for the new minimum wage.

“But those who retired after them were paid up to date because the new minimum wage was already captured in the budget when they exited from service,” he stated.

He, however, assured that the relevant government agencies were processing the shortfall and they would be paid as soon as it was ready.

He regretted that the retirees had chosen to protest instead of engaging with the relevant authorities to find out the true state of affairs regarding their grievances.

He reaffirmed that the Board remained committed to the welfare of all retirees and would continue to carry out its mandate with transparency, professionalism, and respect for ex-service personnel.

Scores of retired military personnel had on Monday staged a peaceful protest over the non-payment of their entitlements.

The ex-servicemen in military camouflage reportedly took over the main gate of the Federal Ministry of Finance, located in the Central District area of Abuja, unannounced, and occupied the place after barricading the main entrance gate.