Retired Military Personnel  Protest Unpaid Allowance In Abuja

Military veterans under the aegis of the Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces (REMENAF)and the Coalition of Concerned Military Veterans, on Monday, staged protests over the non-payment of their Security Debarment Allowance, among others, at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.

The protesters in the third phase, blocked access to the Ministry of Defence located in the country’s capital city.

The retired military men had in January this year picketed the ministries of finance, defence, and the National Assembly in pursuit of the same demand.

The National Secretary, REMENAF, Ambassador Roy Okhidievbie, noted that the demonstration was to demand the payment of their security debarment allowance owed them by the Federal Government.

Okhidievbie stated that the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd.) had refused to disburse the allowances despite approval by the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“We have had meetings with the Defence Minister, Magashi, but he appears to be headstrong, heartless, and unperturbed concerning the grievances of retired military officers, as he never paid nor showed any interest or concern to pay these allowances, especially the Security Debarment Allowance.

“Interestingly, President Buhari-led regime has approved the payment of this allowance, but Magashi have refused to make disbursements," he said.

Also, the spokesperson for the CVV, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts said the protest is focused on the non-payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, adding that they were determined to sleep over at the entrance of the Ministry of Defence.

"We’re here, alongside our wives and children, and the widows of late military personnel and veterans who died in service, some of whom died fighting Boko Haram terrorists.

“We’ll be sleeping over at this place until the Minister of Defence, Magashi accede to our demands,” Durowaiye-Herberts warned.