By Kingsley Omonobi
ABUJA — Scores of retired Nigerian soldiers on Thursday blocked the entrance to the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting the alleged delay in releasing funds to the Military Pensions Board (MPB) for the payment of their outstanding entitlements.
The pensioners said they resorted to the fresh protest after officials of the Ministry of Finance failed to honour earlier assurances that their benefits would be paid by August 10.
The retired soldiers have, in recent years, staged several protests in Abuja and other cities, lamenting delays in payment of their pensions and accusing authorities of neglect.
As of press time, the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, and the Military Pensions Board had yet to respond to the protest.