Gift Wada
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has urged retired soldiers protesting at the Federal Ministry of Finance to halt their demonstrations, clarifying that their demands for wage adjustments under the new minimum wage policy cannot be met.
At a bi-weekly operational briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, explained that the protests stem from grievances over the Creativity and Security Development Allowance (CSDA). The allowance, he noted, is strictly calculated based on the salary chart in force at the time of a soldier’s retirement.
According to him, the Federal Government approved a new minimum wage for federal workers on 29 July 2024. Before that date, payments were computed under the pre-minimum wage chart covering 1 January to 28 July 2024.
“Soldiers who retired within that period are now demanding recalculations based on the new chart. This is not possible, as the policy only came into effect from July 29,” Kangye stated.
He lamented that despite repeated clarifications, some retired personnel have continued to block access and disrupt operations at the Ministry of Finance.
While recognising their right to peaceful protest, the DHQ cautioned against actions that obstruct government activities.
“Policies have effective dates, and this case cannot be an exception. We urge our veterans to exercise restraint, avoid barricading federal premises, and allow the Ministry of Finance to function,” Kangye warned.
The military assured that serving personnel remain committed to professional conduct and are executing operations nationwide under flexible strategies to safeguard national security.