UPDATED: Vacate Finance Ministry, DHQ warns protesting retired personnel

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday warned retired personnel protesting the non-payment of demobilisation allowance to stop unwarranted action and directed them to vacate the premises of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja.

Speaking with Defence Correspondents in Abuja on the update of military operations against insurgency activities in the various theatres of operations across the country, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, declared that the veterans’ continued protest at the premises not only lacked merit but also disrupted government activities at the Finance Ministry, which would no longer be tolerated by the military high command.

The Director explained that prior to the implementation of the minimum wage, there were two charts for calculating soldiers’ gratuity and debarment allowance, in addition to the minimum wage chart.

According to him, “the first chart was what we call pre-minimum wage chart which was effective 1st January 2024 to 28th July 2024. This was the chart based on which some retired soldiers or retired military personnel emoluments were being calculated. Then the second chart was the real minimum wage chart which took effect from 29th July to date.

“Gratuity and security debarment allowance for military personnel is calculated based on the salary chart on the effective date of retirement. So if a soldier is retired today, the subsisting chart that his entitlements will be calculated will be based on the chart today. If tomorrow another chart comes out, that soldier’s entitlements will not be calculated based on that.

“Unfortunately, those soldiers who retired from 1st January 2024 to 28th July 2024 before the implementation of the new minimum wage wanted their gratuity and security debarment allowance to be calculated based on the new minimum wage chart. This cannot be done because the policy of the new minimum wage came into effect on 29th July.

“Thus, soldiers who fall within the category of pre-minimum wage charts are those who continually protest and construct barricades at the Federal Ministry of Finance despite being educated on the two charts by Defence Headquarters.

“It is necessary to reiterate that government policies have effective dates of implementation and this case cannot be an exception.”

While acknowledging the veterans’ right to legitimate protest, Gen. Markus Kangye advised them to proceed with caution, emphasising that their continued protest was “seriously affecting the smooth conduct of activities” at the Federal Ministry of Finance.

According to him, “the Defence Headquarters acknowledges freedom of legitimate protest, but the veterans are strongly advised to tread with caution and vacate the premises of the Federal Ministry of Finance in order to pave the way for normal government functions to seamlessly be conducted at the Ministry.”

Scores of retired military personnel had on several occasions blocked the main gate of the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding unpaid entitlements which the military high command said lacked merit.

This came just as the Director disclosed that during the month of August under review the troops intensified operations nationwide, with remarkable gains recorded in the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and oil theft.

He explained that the operations aimed at neutralising threats to national security, restoring peace, and protecting citizens’ lives and property.

According to him, “during the period under review, our troops sustained aggressive operations across all theatres, leading to the elimination of several terrorist leaders and their fighters. Arrests of terrorists, kidnappers, and criminal collaborators were also made, alongside the recovery of large quantities of arms, ammunition, and other logistics.”

He added that the gallant troops eliminated several notorious terrorists, including Adamu Buba, also known as Mai-Pankshin, in Riyom LGA of Plateau State, and Abdullahi Abubakar, who had been terrorising Rafiki village in Bassa LGA of Plateau State.

According to him, “additionally, two suspected gunrunners were arrested along the Kwoi-Keffi road in Jama’a LGA of Kaduna State, while two suspected kidnappers, Mohammed Sanusi and Usman Alhaji Bala, were captured in Obajana, Lokoja LGA of Kogi State.

“North East – Operation HADIN KAI.
In the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) conducted sustained offensives between 29th August and 2nd September 2025, targeting Boko Haram, ISWAP, and JAS terrorists in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States.

“Operations were carried out in Mafa, Bama, Damboa, Gwoza, Kukawa, Jere, Askira-Uba, and Mobbar LGAs of Borno State, as well as Madagali and Michika LGAs of Adamawa State.”

He further explained that the troops of Operation Delta Safe foiled oil theft worth N545,872,819 in August in the ongoing operations against insurgency activities in the country.

He said the troops recovered 619,236 litres of stolen crude oil, 106,147 litres of illegally refined diesel (AGO), 5,785 litres of kerosene (DPK), and 2,650 litres of petrol (PMS).

According to him, “they also destroyed 97 illegal refining sites and over 488 pieces of equipment, including storage tanks, boats, dugout pits and cooking ovens.”

Gen. Kangye further explained that 17 suspects were apprehended across Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa states, with arms, ammunition, explosives, and N1.7 million cash recovered from them.

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