Heavy security as retired military officers protest pension denial at Defence HQ

Heavy security forces including Armoured Personnel Carriers, armed soldiers and over 18 vehicles from multiple agencies were deployed around the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday ahead of a planned protest by retired military officers demanding pension adjustments following President Tinubu’s November 2025 salary increase for serving personnel, Daily Trust reports.

Retired Colonel Innocent Azubike said the protest was to demand “constitutional pension rights,” alleging that despite military authorities publicly acknowledging the President’s approval of consequential pension adjustments for retirees, implementation had not occurred.

“Suddenly, in July and August, it was not implemented and they started changing their stories, as if it should be forgotten,” Azubike said.