FG To Settle Protesting Ex-soldiers Arrears Friday

Retired soldiers who protested at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Monday suspended their action following a meeting with ministry officials who assured them that their outstanding entitlements would be paid by Friday.

The protesters had blocked the entrance of the ministry’s gate with a canopy and chairs to demand their unpaid entitlements.

The protest comes days after serving police officers across various states also staged protests, asking for an exemption from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The officers, who described the scheme as exploitative and inadequate, called on the government to revert to the defined benefits arrangement.

Addressing journalists on Monday after the meeting with the government’s officials, one of the protest leaders, who identified herself as Mama G, said they would wait until the end of the week before taking further action.

“They promised to pay us by Friday. We are giving them the benefit of the doubt. If we don’t get our alerts, we will reinforce massively here,” she said.

Mama G, a retired sergeant, lamented the amount paid to her after 20 years of service, describing it as inadequate.