Military veterans protests 24 months unpaid entitlements

Military veterans have decried through a protest the non-payment of their outstanding entitlements for 24 months in Kaduna on Monday.

The ex-servicemen protested under the aegis of Coalition of Concerned Veterans on the streets of Kaduna, saying their entitlements is deserved after serving their country.

The placards wielded by the protesters showed demands such as “an immediate payment of 24 months minimum wage increment, security debarment allowance, a refund of deductions from medically discharged retired servicemen, and an automatic Armed Forces slot for qualified children of retired servicemen” and so on.

Speaking to journalists shortly after they marched through the major streets, Auwal Aliyu, one of the leaders of the military veterans, said, “These are members of the Coalition of Concerned Veterans. CCV is a conglomeration of some military associations recognised by the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

“The essence of this gathering is as simple as it is. We have outstanding arrears of 24 months entitlements that have not been paid.

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“We also have the Security Development Allowance which we have been asking the Federal Government to pay. There were selective payments of the SDA. A few people were selected and paid the SDA, but 90% of those entitled to the SDA have not been paid. We have been asking questions.”

Aliyu also spoke about the Defence Health Insurance Scheme which he said did not cover certain ailments.

“Some of the retirees are having serious health challenges and there is no adequate medical cover for them,” he lamented.