By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Hundreds of military retirees, on Wednesday , August 19,2026, stormed the Abuja Headquarters of the Defence Ministry, protesting their exclusion from the recent upward review of salaries and emoluments of serving personnel.
The military pensioners explained that the failure of the authorities to include them in the computation of the adjustment of the new salary structure for military personnel has resulted in a disturbing disparity between the retirement benefits of personnel.
According to them, their non-conclusion in the salary review has led to junior officers recently retired earning far more than their seniors who left the service some years ago.
President Bola Tinubu had, a couple of weeks ago, approved a significant pay rise for military personnel, with the baseline shifting from the usual N49 ,000 to as much as N180,000 monthly.
Before the presidential announcement, General Christopher Musa rtd, the Minister of Defence had disclosed that the minimum wage for soldiers had been increased from N49,000 to N100,000 monthly.
Leader and spokesperson for the protesting retired solders, Col. Innocent Azubuike, emphasized that the salary increase which will take effect from September, will see junior officers who just left the service paid more than their seniors who retired earlier.
Referencing the Armed Forces Act and Constitution, Azubuike said it is the right of the retired personnel to be included in the computation of the consequential adjustment for the new salary structure.
“The consequential adjustment that is increased in the pension is a constitutional right. It is in the constitution, and also in the Armed Forces Act.
“But with our non-conclusion, the situation is such that, for example, a Captain who retired some 10-15 years ago, the pension is stagnated . A couple of Sergeants who retired recently could be receiving pension higher than a Captain who retired 10 years back and ironically ,both served the same military”, Azubuike stated.
He emphasized that the disparity became more pronounced and disturbing in the face of the recent increase in wages for military and paramilitary personnel by the president.
According to him , before now ,the authorities had also refused to include retired personnel in the salary increase approved in November 2025 military and paramilitary personnel.
“The Military high command at a every given occasion keeps thanking the president for the salary increase, but they have refused to implement the increase. November last year, and this is August 2026, they are yet to implement an increase approved in 2025.
“Now with the recent increase that has placed the minimum salary of serving soldiers at N180,000 monthly, we have also been excluded from the computation of its consequential adjustment.
“If you compute the fund requirement for implementing the most recent increase and you exclude old pensioners, you are depriving them of their constitutional and legal rights as enshrined in the constitution and the Armed Forces Act.
“And the implications could be far-reaching and disturbing. You could see a Captain who retired 15 years ,10 years back, his/her pension will be the equivalent of that of a Sergeant who retired this year”, Azubuike added.
He emphasized that what the retired personnel are demanding and will continue to pursue is for them to be captured in whatever upward review of wages approved for the military personnel.
“What we are asking for is that the retired personnel should be included in the review of the consequential adjustment arising from recent increases in the minimum wages of the military.
“They have computed the fund requirement excluding retirees. What we are requesting is a right ,and not a favour. It is our constitutional and legal right to be included in the new salary structure approved”, he noted.
The protesting retired military personnel who were denied access to the Defence Ministry Headquarters by several stern-looking and heavily armed security operatives drawn from multiple agencies, were. however. assured that their grievances will be looked into.
On why the choice of Defence Ministry, instead of Defence Headquarters for the protest, Col Azubuike stated that the retirees are convinced that the Ministry holds the key.
“We are convinced that the problem is from the Ministry of Defence because they are the ones that are having the records.
“Our details are with them. When they are submitting the number for computing salary increase, they know the number of retirees”, Azubuike insisted.
He warned that the retired personnel will not hesitate to escalate the agitation, and protest marches should the authorities fail to address their demand within a reasonable period.
