Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
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, October 15, 2026, over a disputed pension adjustment formula and alleged delays in settling outstanding entitlements. The coalition, which comprises affiliated veterans' associations, said it would mobilise retired military personnel from across the country for the protest if the board failed to provide a satisfactory response to its concerns before the scheduled date.
In a letter made available to journalists on Monday and addressed to the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board, Air Vice Marshal Mikail Abdulraheem, the coalition demanded an urgent review of the pension computation formula, an audit of affected payments, the recalculation of pensions where discrepancies were established, and the payment of outstanding arrears. The letter, signed by the coalition's Director at the CCV/REMENAF National Headquarters Liaison Office in Abuja, Blessing Alabala, was also copied to the Ministers of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, among others.
"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," Alabala said.
At the heart of the dispute is the methodology being applied to retired military personnel's pensions, which the coalition says differs from the percentage increases reportedly approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for serving military personnel. According to the veterans, the reported salary increases were 80 per cent for personnel from Private to Staff Sergeant, 50 per cent for those from Warrant Officer to Colonel, and 30 per cent for personnel above the rank of Colonel, including Brigadier-General and equivalent ranks. The coalition, however, said information attributed to the MPB chairman at a consultative meeting on October 9 indicated that the pension adjustment formula reportedly being applied was based on years of service and rank. Under the reported formula, pension adjustments comprise 40 per cent for 10 years of service, an additional two per cent for each additional year of service, a maximum of 90 per cent for 35 years of service, and 100 per cent for Major-General and equivalent ranks and above.
The veterans argued that this methodology could produce outcomes different from those expected under the applicable approvals and implementation directives. They were careful to clarify that their objection was not based on the assumption that every salary increase must automatically translate into an identical percentage increase in every pension calculation. "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 stated. The coalition also questioned the basis for applying the reported service-year formula to the 2026 adjustment, asking whether the same methodology was used for the 2024 increment. The veterans further called for a comprehensive review of pension computations affected by the disputed formula, insisting that any established errors, inconsistencies or underpayments should be corrected.
The threat of protest is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between military veterans and the Federal Government over pension adjustments. In August 2026, retired military personnel staged protests at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, demanding the implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions following salary increases for serving personnel. The protesters alleged that pensioners were excluded from the computation of funds required to implement the latest salary adjustment, describing the situation as a violation of their constitutional and legal rights. Armed soldiers blocked the ex-servicemen from protesting at the Defence Ministry on that occasion. The Nigerian Legion subsequently appealed to the veterans to remain calm and embrace dialogue, assuring them that the government was working to settle outstanding entitlements and implement approved pension increases.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), met with the protesting veterans and assured them that the government remained committed to resolving issues surrounding their welfare, remuneration and pensions. He said any adjustment to veterans' entitlements must be properly computed, adequately funded and implemented in accordance with extant approvals, regulations and due process. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, also assured that military retirees would benefit from consequential increases in their pensions whenever the salaries and emoluments of serving personnel were adjusted. Following these assurances, the veterans suspended their planned protest. In a related development, the Federal Government announced in early October 2026 that it had begun implementing newly approved pension rates following the adjustment arising from the new National Minimum Wage, with applicable arrears processed and paid into the accounts of eligible pensioners with effect from October 2, 2026.
The Military Pensions Board also engaged representatives of military veterans' associations on October 9, 2026, in a consultative meeting aimed at clarifying the implementation of the newly approved pension rates. The board's Public Relations Officer, Squadron Leader Aliyu Mohammed, said the engagement provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss pension-related issues and strengthen mutual understanding. According to the statement, the veterans' representatives welcomed the explanations and appreciated the opportunity for direct engagement with the board. The board reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of military pensioners and assured transparent communication and constructive engagement with stakeholders. It also assured stakeholders that it would address pension-related concerns within its mandate and encouraged continued dialogue through established communication channels.
Despite the engagement, the Coalition of Concerned Veterans has proceeded with its threat of protest, suggesting that the consultative meeting did not resolve the fundamental disagreement over the pension computation formula. The coalition's letter demanded a clear and satisfactory response before October 15, failing which it would mobilise veterans from across the country for the protest at the MPB headquarters in Abuja. The veterans' grievances centre on the relationship between the salary increases approved for serving personnel and the consequential adjustments applied to pensions, as well as the methodology used to calculate those adjustments. They are seeking documentary evidence establishing whether the formula being applied is consistent with the President's approval and the relevant implementation directives.
The political context of the dispute is significant. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. President Tinubu is seeking a second term on the All Progressives Congress platform, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement are among the major challengers. The welfare of military veterans has emerged as a sensitive issue in the campaign, and the government's handling of the pension dispute will be part of the broader assessment of its record on security and public sector welfare. For the veterans, the protest is a demand for transparency and fairness in the computation of their pensions. For the Military Pensions Board, it is a test of its capacity to address the concerns of a constituency that has served the country in uniform. The coming days will determine whether the board provides the clarification the coalition is seeking or whether the veterans proceed with their planned protest on Thursday.
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