Scheduled Protest By Ex-Military Personnel Suspended

Amid mounting pressure from retired military personnel and veterans over delayed pension payments, the Military Pensions Board (MPB) has announced that arrears for January and February 2025 will be paid on Friday, June 13, 2025, across the country.

The announcement comes in response to an ongoing mobilization by various veterans’ associations who had been preparing for a nationwide protest in Abuja. The veterans cited severe economic hardship and an inability to access medical care as consequences of the non-payment of their pensions and entitlements.

Sources indicated that the proposed protest involved a march to key government institutions—including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the National Assembly—to demand immediate action on unpaid pension arrears, as well as the resolution of long-standing issues like the non-harmonization of the Security Department Allowance.

Investigations by Vanguard revealed that the delay in disbursement was not caused by negligence on the part of the MPB but rather due to the non-release of funds to the board.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by Squadron Leader Aliyu Mohammed on behalf of the MPB Chairman, the board confirmed the release of payments and the cancellation of the planned protests.

Titled “Payment of January and February 2025 Arrears to Military Pensioners”, the statement reads: “The Military Pensions Board (MPB) wishes to inform all military pensioners that the arrears for January and February 2025 will be unfailingly paid to their respective banks nationwide on Friday, 13 June 2025.

“This payment cannot be made on Thursday due to the public holiday but will be completed on Friday.

“Accordingly, all military pensioners on the MPB payroll are advised to contact their respective banks on the above date for payment.

“Additionally, pensioners who are yet to be verified are kindly advised to contact MPB through the following official numbers: 09059106134 or 07076111832.”

The update has brought a measure of relief to thousands of retired service members, many of whom have long expressed frustration over delayed entitlements and a lack of support after years of service.