Chairman of Military Pensions Board (MPB), Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson has pledged to commence payment of pension arrears of pensioners following fresh protests by the senior citizens in Abuja.
Irumheson arrived the venue of the protest at around 2.45.pm, calmed the angry senior citizens down, promising them that the Ministry of Finance has heard their cry and credited the Board for onward payment.
According to AVM Paul Irumheson, “By this evening, you will start receiving alert. I can confirm to you that we have received the money. Please go back home, your money will be paid.”
Retired military personnel had formed barricade at the entrance to the Ministry of Finance, Central Area in Abuja with canopies and chairs, demanding the full payment of their long-overdue entitlements.
This protest follows a similar action around December 2024, during which the retirees shut down the ministry over the federal government’s failure to settle their claims.
For several months, the retirees were told there were no funds to clear their entitlements, despite an official approval for payment. They are owed a 20% to 28% salary increment covering January to November 2024.
The retirees are also demanding payments for other outstanding benefits, including: Palliatives for the period between October 2023 and November 2024.