Retired military personnel in Nigeria have expressed dissatisfaction with the formula used to calculate their revised pensions, warning that they may consider further action if the Military Pensions Board fails to address concerns over the amounts credited to their accounts.
The dispute centres on the calculation method adopted for the recently approved pension adjustments, with some retirees arguing that the increases they have received fall short of what they expected following salary reviews for serving military personnel.
The spokesperson for the Coalition of Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herbert, disclosed the development during an interview, explaining that the group was seeking clarification from the Military Pensions Board before deciding on its next move.
According to him, representatives of military retirees attended a consultative meeting with the board on Friday, where officials explained how the revised pension rates were calculated. However, the explanation has not fully resolved the concerns of some pensioners.
Durowaiye-Herbert said the calculation method remained unclear to him, despite the board’s presentation.
“The formula used by the Military Pensions Board is not clear to me too; I must be sincere with you. Honestly, it’s not clear,” he said.
He explained that, based on his understanding of the presentation, the formula involved a minimum of 10 years of service, attracting 40 per cent, with an additional two percentage points for each subsequent year.
Under the example he provided, a retiree with 11 years of service would receive a rate of 42 per cent, while someone with 12 years would receive 44 per cent. The calculation would continue according to the years served.
However, the veterans’ representative questioned why the pension adjustment was not calculated in a manner that more closely reflected the salary adjustments approved for serving military personnel.
The disagreement has created uncertainty among retirees who expected the revised rates to translate into higher payments consistent with the adjustments announced for serving members of the Armed Forces.
Durowaiye-Herbert said some pensioners believed the amounts credited to their accounts were between ₦20,000 and ₦40,000 below what they expected under the approved adjustment.
He attributed the dissatisfaction partly to the difference between the retirees’ understanding of the approval and the figures used in calculating their revised benefits.
“Something was added, but from their own view, from what the approval carries, the one by the wages commission, it falls short of their expectation,” he said.
Despite the disagreement, the coalition indicated that it would initially pursue dialogue rather than immediately organise another demonstration.
Durowaiye-Herbert said the group planned to write formally to the Military Pensions Board to request a detailed explanation of the calculation method and ask the authorities to address the concerns raised by affected retirees.
“We don’t plan to immediately rush into protest. We’ll first write them a letter,” he said.
He added that the coalition had held internal consultations to determine its position and intended to use the outcome of those discussions to guide its next steps.
The latest dispute follows previous demonstrations by military retirees in Abuja over the implementation of consequential pension adjustments linked to salary increases for serving personnel.
In August, retired soldiers gathered around the Ministry of Defence to demand corresponding pension increases, arguing that retirees should benefit from salary adjustments approved for serving members of the Armed Forces.
The protests prompted engagements between representatives of the veterans and officials of the Ministry of Defence. Defence Minister Christopher Musa subsequently assured the retirees that the government would address their concerns over pension adjustments and other welfare matters.
The minister, through a statement issued by the ministry, said pension and remuneration issues were receiving attention from the relevant authorities. He also called for dialogue, stressing that adjustments to veterans’ entitlements had to be properly calculated, funded and implemented in line with applicable approvals and procedures.
The Military Pensions Board later announced that it had commenced implementation of the revised pension rates following adjustments associated with the new minimum wage. It also said applicable arrears had been processed, with payments to pensioners beginning on October 2, 2026.
On October 9, the board said it had held a consultative meeting with representatives of military veterans’ associations to explain the implementation process and respond to questions about the revised rates.
The board maintained that the meeting provided an opportunity to address concerns and reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of military pensioners, transparent communication and timely resolution of issues within its mandate.
However, the latest complaints suggest that questions remain among some retirees about how the revised figures were calculated and whether the payments reflect the adjustments they believe were approved.
The coalition’s planned letter is expected to seek further clarification from the board. The response could help determine whether the dispute will be resolved through engagement or lead to renewed pressure from dissatisfied pensioners.
For the affected retirees, the central issue is not simply whether their pensions have increased, but whether the revised payments have been calculated transparently and in accordance with the applicable approval.
Until the board’s formula is clearly explained and the outstanding concerns addressed, the disagreement over military pension adjustments is likely to remain a source of tension between retired personnel and the relevant authorities.
