Retired military personnel under the Coalition of Concerned Veterans have threatened to stage a peaceful protest at the Military Pensions Board in Abuja on Thursday over alleged discrepancies in pension adjustments and delays in the payment of outstanding entitlements.
The veterans said they would mobilise pensioners from across the country for the demonstration if the board failed to address their concerns before October 15, 2026.
The coalition disclosed its position in a letter dated October 12 and addressed to the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board, Air Vice Marshal Mikail Abdulraheem, with copies sent to the Ministers of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, among other officials.
The letter, signed by the coalition’s Director at the CCV/REMENAF National Headquarters Liaison Office, Abuja, Blessing Alabala, called for a review of the pension adjustment formula, an audit of affected payments and the recalculation of pensions where discrepancies were established.
The veterans also demanded the payment of outstanding arrears, the publication of applicable pension computation guidelines and a clear timetable for settling verified claims.
“We hereby give formal notice of our intention, together with our affiliated veterans’ associations, to mobilise concerned veterans from across Nigeria for a peaceful and orderly protest at the Military Pensions Board, Abuja, at 0800 hours on Thursday, 15 October 2026, should the concerns raised in this letter remain unaddressed by a clear and satisfactory response,” the letter stated.
The dispute centres on the methodology reportedly being used to calculate pension adjustments for retired personnel following salary increases approved for serving members of the Armed Forces.
According to the coalition, the reported salary adjustments were 80 per cent for personnel from Private to Staff Sergeant, 50 per cent for ranks from Warrant Officer to Colonel, and 30 per cent for officers above the rank of Colonel, including Brigadier-General and equivalent ranks.
However, the veterans said information attributed to the chairman of the pensions board during a consultative meeting on October 9 indicated that a different formula, based on years of service and military rank, was being applied to pension adjustments.
Under the reported formula, personnel with 10 years of service would receive a 40 per cent adjustment, with an additional two per cent for each extra year of service. The adjustment would reach a maximum of 90 per cent for those with 35 years of service, while Major-General and equivalent ranks and above would receive 100 per cent.
The coalition expressed concern that the methodology could result in pension payments that differ from what retired personnel expected under the relevant approvals and implementation directives.
It noted that its demand was not based on the assumption that every salary increase must automatically translate into an identical percentage increase in pensions.
“Rather, we seek authoritative clarification of the relationship between the reported salary increases and the consequential pension adjustments, together with documentary evidence establishing whether the formula being applied is consistent with the approval of President Bola Tinubu and the relevant implementation directives,” the letter read.
The veterans also questioned whether the service-year formula being applied to the 2026 adjustment had been used during the 2024 increment, when delays in implementing approved increases and settling outstanding entitlements reportedly triggered dissatisfaction among pensioners.
Alabala said the experience of 2024 had heightened concerns among retired personnel, who were seeking assurances that the current adjustment process would be transparent and consistent with the applicable directives.
The coalition consequently requested a comprehensive audit of pension computations affected by the disputed formula, with corrections and refunds where errors, inconsistencies or underpayments were established.
It further asked the board to disclose the amounts due to affected pensioners, explain how their benefits were calculated and provide a definite schedule for the payment of verified arrears.
Other demands include establishing a transparent complaints mechanism for pensioners who disagree with their payments and convening an urgent consultative meeting with recognised veterans’ representatives.
Despite the planned demonstration, the coalition said it remained open to resolving the dispute through dialogue, provided the board responded satisfactorily to its demands.
It warned, however, that the protest would proceed as scheduled if the issues remained unresolved before Thursday.
