Retired officers accuse government of delaying implementation of military salary law, insist peaceful protest remains an option if authorities fail to act…..
Military veterans have called on the Federal Government to immediately implement the approved ₦250,000 minimum wage for serving members of the Armed Forces, accusing authorities of delaying the enforcement of a salary structure they say has already been backed by law.
The demand was made during a retreat attended by more than 70 retired military officers at the Armed Forces Headquarters Command Mess 1 in Abuja on Monday.
Although the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, was expected at the meeting, he was represented by five senior military officers, with organisers saying he was attending an official engagement at the Presidential Villa.
Speaking after the meeting, one of the organisers, Colonel Innocent Azubike (retd.), said the veterans presented documentary evidence to the military representatives, who reportedly acknowledged the authenticity of the documents and promised to brief the CDS immediately.
According to Azubike, the officers accepted that the issues raised by the veterans were valid and assured them that a report would be submitted to the Defence Chief upon his return.
“The five Generals that represented the CDS collected the papers presented by veterans and accepted that what the veterans said were facts. They said they would submit their report to the CDS immediately he comes back from the State House,” he said.
Azubike added that the veterans were hopeful of receiving an official response within a week.
The retired officers expressed frustration over what they described as months of delays despite repeated assurances from government officials that the new salary structure would be implemented.
According to Azubike, the National Assembly approved a bill in October 2025 to review the salaries of serving and retired military personnel after a comparative study reportedly found that Nigerian military personnel earned some of the lowest salaries among their counterparts in Africa.
He said the Senate approved a minimum salary of ₦250,000 for the least-paid soldier, with the House of Representatives subsequently concurring and funds provided for the implementation in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
“The Senate passed a Bill for upward review of the pay of serving and retired military personnel. The House of Representatives gave its concurrence,” he said.
Azubike further stated that President Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law in November 2025, directing that implementation should include three months’ arrears from the date of assent.
He noted that the Presidency publicly announced the approval at the time, while the Ministry of Defence and the Service Chiefs also welcomed the development and assured personnel that payment would begin.
However, he alleged that military authorities had recently denied knowledge of the approved salary increase.
According to him, the recent position taken by the Chief of Defence Staff and the Ministry of Defence has left both serving and retired personnel confused.
He also criticised recent comments by the Minister of Defence, who reportedly stated that the military minimum wage had been increased from ₦49,000 to ₦100,000, describing the claim as inaccurate.
Azubike argued that the ₦100,000 figure was tied to the implementation of the 2024 national minimum wage and had no connection with the separate military salary review approved in 2025.
Despite the ongoing engagement with military authorities, the veterans said they remained committed to staging a peaceful protest if the approved salary structure is not implemented.
According to Azubike, the planned demonstration will take place at the Federal Ministry of Finance to demand answers over the delay and the whereabouts of funds reportedly appropriated for the pay increase.
“We have clearly stated that we are determined to embark on a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance to find out what has become of the approved increment and the funds appropriated for it,” he said.
He added that preparations for the protest were ongoing, including fundraising to mobilise participants at short notice should the government fail to act.
The veterans urged the Federal Government to honour its commitments by implementing the approved salary structure without further delay, insisting that serving members of the Armed Forces deserve the improved welfare already approved by law.
