RismadarVoice Reporters, August 19, 2026
Security was heightened around the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Wednesday as military retirees prepared to protest the alleged failure of the Federal Government to implement consequential adjustments to their pensions.
A correspondent at the venue around 8am observed personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Immigration Service and Vehicle Inspection Officers deployed around the area.
Armed soldiers were also seen patrolling the vicinity, while security personnel took strategic positions on roads leading to the ministry.
Two armoured personnel carriers and more than 15 vehicles belonging to the police, Army, Immigration Service and VIO were observed stationed at different points around the protest venue.
However, the demonstration had not commenced as of the time of filing the report.
The retirees are demanding the implementation of corresponding pension increases following salary adjustments approved for serving military personnel.
One of the leaders of the retirees, retired Colonel Innocent Azubike, said the protest was intended to demand what he described as the constitutional pension rights of retired military personnel.
According to Azubike, President Bola Tinubu approved a salary increase for military personnel in November 2025, which he said should have triggered a corresponding adjustment in the pensions of retirees.
Military Headquarters’ Road Area 10
He alleged that the pension adjustment had not been implemented despite repeated acknowledgements by military authorities of the presidential approval.
Azubike said the retirees were not opposed to salary increases for serving personnel but wanted pensioners to benefit from the consequential adjustments.
He also raised concerns over another salary increase announced for military personnel in August 2026, which is expected to take effect in September.
According to him, funds had already been calculated for the implementation of the latest salary increase, but pensioners were allegedly excluded from the corresponding pension adjustment.
He said the exclusion was the primary reason for the protest.
Azubike warned that the alleged exclusion of pensioners from the adjustments could create disparities among military personnel of the same rank and with similar years of service who retired at different times.
He explained that personnel retiring under the new salary structure could receive significantly higher pensions than colleagues of the same rank and comparable service years who retired earlier.
The retired officer argued that such a situation would be unfair to pensioners who had already left the military.
The retirees are therefore demanding that the Federal Government implement the outstanding consequential adjustments and include pensioners in future salary-related reviews applicable to serving military personnel.
