Ex-soldiers vow to ‘take up arms’ against FG

Military pensioners are threatening to take up arms against the government for its failure to pay their pension arrears since 2010.

The veterans. who protested under the umbrella of Coalition of Aggrieved Military Pensioners, converged on the road leading to the presidential villa on Wednesday.

Armed with placards and posters, they threatened massive protests should the government fail to meet their demands.

They cried that some of their members had joined Boko Haram, while some were on the verge of becoming militants because of government’s insincerity in their matter.

“Military pensioners who are not well taken care of are prone to become enemies of the state,” One of the leaders of the group, Retired Captain Gabriel Oaikhena, said.

“You know that every military pensioner knows how to use a gun. And don’t you think it is dangerous to abandon those who know how to use dangerous weapons. That is why there is crisis.

“We are on a collective protest. We were here on June 25 for the same protest whereby General Maigworo from the senate, General Sali from the senate, and another chairman of the pension committee from the house of representatives; they were all there and they revealed to us that our money was in the budget of 2014.

“At that time, five of us nominated for a meeting were there for many times but they did not show. We see it as a gimmick to cheat us because they think we are blind. If it is weapons that we will take up to stop this oppression, we will do it. It is not a threat; it is a promise. We will fight for it with the last drop of our blood.”

Part of the demands of the ex-servicemen is the implementation of the 53.37% pension increase, which was to take effect from July 2010. They are also asking for harmonisation of its pensions with the current rate for serving military personnel.

The minister of labour and productivity, Emeka Wogu, who spoke with protesting military retirees, assured them that the government was looking into the matter.

“We cannot run away from people like you. I want to thank you on behalf of Mr. President for the services you have rendered to the country. Government did not abandon pensioners like,” he said.

“We assure you, just as you said the money is in the budget, that the budget will be implemented just as it was passed.”