Nigerian Civil War Veterans Plan Mass Protest In January Over Unpaid Pensions

Some retired soldiers who fought on the side of the Nigerian government during the 1967 to 1970 Civil War, are set to embark on a protest over their unpaid pensions 40 years after the war.

The planned protest is scheduled to hold on the 15th of January, 2024.

The retired soldiers had in November 2023 asked President Bola Tinubu to see to the payment of their pensions.

The soldiers said they had yet to be placed on the military pension roll, after over 40 years.

In a letter titled: “Letter of passionate appeal to have the first intake of 10 years and above that fought in the civil war to be placed on the pension roll of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” signed by the Coordinator of the Civil War Veterans, Babawande Phillip, and Secretary, Okewuyi Bayo, and addressed to the President.

According to the letter, the ex-policemen and soldiers who fought on the Biafran side had been enrolled and were collecting their pensions from the government.

The group urged President Tinubu to urgently intervene, adding that many of them were living in abject poverty.

However, in a statement jointly signed by their national coordinator, Babawande Philip, and National Secretary, Okewuyi Bayo, the veterans said to date, they have not heard a word from the government.

The ex – service men who said they consider the treatment meted out to them by the Federal Government as unfair and a disservice to the sacrifice they made to ensure the nation remains as one, lamented that the Federal Government abandoned them.

The statement reads in part; “We are displeased with the way the successive governments have treated us. Despite several letters and other entreaties to call their attention to our plights, we have been neglected.

“In October we wrote the President, the National Assembly, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Military Pension Board, and Ministry of Defence.  To date, we have not heard a word from them.

“We consider the treatment meted out to us by the Federal Government as unfair and a disservice to the sacrifice we made to ensure the nation remains as one.

“It is heart-rending to see our colleagues who fought against the government get the monthly pension while we have been struggling for the last 40 years. It is worthy to note that many of our members have died in the struggle.

“On this note,  we have resolved to commence another round of nationwide protests to press home our demand.  We have been pushed to the wall and we believe this is the only way to get what we deserve.

“Starting from January 15, we will be taking to the streets.  The government has from now till January 14 to do the needful.  Our protests will be massive and protracted until we get what rightful belongs to us,” the statement added.