Nigerian military retirees, who have obtained government clearance for the payouts, are demonstrating over the delay in collecting their benefits. After waiting 11 months for their dues, these retirees organise a massive demonstration in Abuja. The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF) is the target of the Protest since the authorised payments were not supported by “cash-backing,” which is the reason for the delay. Col. Innocent Azubuike (retd.), a retiree leader, emphasised the extreme suffering that pensioners endure as a result of their underpaid benefits. The government’s failure to fulfil its promises to make payments by November drew criticism from him.
Azubuike underlined the urgency of taking fast action, saying that military pensioners had served the nation with honour and are entitled to their rights. In order to demonstrate their resolve, the retirees have set up sleeping mats and mobile restrooms, demonstrating their readiness for a protracted demo. According to their rank, years of service, and base pay at the time of retirement, Nigerian military retirees are eligible for pensions and gratuities. The Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), which rewards retirees for not seeking jobs that could jeopardise national security, and monthly pensions are among the main elements.
Many pensioners are in terrible circumstances due to payment delays.
Usually, the SDA is calculated by multiplying the retiree’s years of service by 10% of their yearly basic wage. The Military Pensions Board (MPB) oversees payments in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defence. Budgetary approval is necessary before the payment process can proceed, and cash-backing guarantees that funds are available for distribution. Lack of funds, administrative bottlenecks, and problems with interministerial communication are frequently the causes of delays. The MPB and the Federal Ministry of Finance have recognised the difficulties in obtaining timely payout.
Funding limitations are a major barrier, according to the MPB, which has underlined efforts to guarantee accountability and openness. Through recent actions like partial SDA payments in tranches and continued lobbying for budget allocations, officials have reassured pensioners of their commitment to overcoming delays. Numerous pensioners are in terrible circumstances as a result of payment delays. Many complain about their service being underappreciated, and some find it difficult to pay for necessities like food, shelter, and medical care.
Systemic inefficiencies have been brought to light by retiree protests.
For nearly ten years, Nigerian military retirees’ payments have been delayed, despite repeated protests and official pledges. To resolve long-standing complaints, for example, the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) was introduced in 2017 under the Manual of Financial Administration. Protests resulted from this change’s exclusion of many pensioners who had left service before to November 2017. Only in 2022, following protracted protests, did President Muhammadu Buhari approve ₦134.7 billion to settle SDA arrears for this group.
Delays continue in spite of these measures. Late payments are frequently attributed by the Military Pensions Board (MPB) to a lack of funds and administrative difficulties. For instance, the government started paying out SDA in installments for the first two quarters of 2023, but many retirees claimed they had not received their entire entitlement. Systemic inefficiencies have also been brought to light by retiree protests. Veterans protested around the country in 2021, calling for transparency and accountability in Pension administration. Although such measures provided temporary respite, they were unable to resolve systemic problems with the pension system, as evidenced by similar demonstrations and arrears in the years that followed.
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Historical evidence demonstrates how significant these delays are. Unpaid entitlements have impacted almost 97,000 pensioners in recent years, with backlogs of billions of naira. These delays have put pensioners through emotional and financial strain, which emphasises how urgently long-term changes to pension administration are needed. There are currently 97,000 military retirees and the surviving family members of fallen service members who are impacted by payment delays. There are ₦134.7 billion in recent arrears for SDA and extra money for monthly pensions. These numbers show the extent of the government’s financial responsibilities to guarantee the Welfare of pensioners.