The Defence Headquarters has ordered protesting retired soldiers to immediately vacate the Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters in Abuja.
Salient Times report that a large number of retired soldiers who voluntarily exited the Nigerian Army in 2024 had stormed the ministry to protest what they described as the government’s failure to pay their entitlements.
They accused the Nigerian government of neglecting them for too long.
However, reacting to the protest, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Markus Kanye, directed that the aggrieved former soldiers should vacate the ministry’s premises with immediate effect.
According to him, the actions of the protesting soldiers are “seriously affecting the smooth conduct of activities at the Ministry of Finance”.
“While the Defence Headquarters acknowledges the right to legitimate protest, the veterans are strongly advised to tread with caution and vacate the premises of the Federal Ministry of Finance to allow government functions to continue seamlessly.
“This is the message we have been directed to pass on, so that through your medium, our veterans and the Nigerian public can be properly informed.
“Let me reaffirm that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to their constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of our great nation, supporting civil authorities in maintaining internal security, and ensuring peace and stability across all regions,” Kangye added.
