The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has assured that military retirees will benefit from consequential increases in their pensions whenever the salaries and emoluments of serving personnel are adjusted.

🇳🇬 Here's What Happened

Oluyede gave the assurance in Yola, Adamawa State capital, during an interactive engagement with military veterans from the North-East zone.

The assurance came a day after retired military personnel protested at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja despite heavy security deployment over the failure of the authorities to implement consequential pension adjustments arising from salary increases approved for serving personnel.

The retirees had demanded corresponding increases in their pensions, particularly following the latest salary adjustment for military personnel announced in August and scheduled to take effect from September.

📌 Key Details

The protest was later suspended after the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), assured the veterans that their demands would be addressed.

A statement on Thursday by the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Samila Uba said the CDS noted that the ongoing salary review for serving personnel was all-inclusive, stressing that the implementation was already underway.

He said, “In line with extant policies, adjustments to the emoluments of serving personnel have a consequential increase to the pensions of veterans.”

The CDS reaffirmed the commitment of the Defence Headquarters to improving the welfare and dignity of retired military personnel and their families.

He said the DHQ was also implementing several initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of veterans, including collaboration with the Bank of Industry to facilitate access to low-digit loans for business enterprises by serving and retired personnel and their families.

Oluyede also disclosed that the ongoing construction of the Defence Hospital would reserve a percentage of its patronage for veterans.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria