Retired soldiers don block Federal Ministry of Finance for Abuja yesterday as dem protest say government never pay dem their gratuity, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and other money wey dem suppose collect.

Di protest start around 7 in di morning and make workers for di ministry stranded as dem no fit enter office. Di ex-soldiers, men and women carry placards wey talk say dem be heroes wey deserve better treatment, no be only when dem don die dem go dey celebrate dem.

Dem say dem retire from Nigerian Army for first and second quarter of 2024 and na voluntary discharge dem do. Di angry ex-servicemen block di main gate of di ministry and talk say dem no go leave until government pay dem all di money wey dem dey owe.

Some of dem wear military uniform, dey sing solidarity songs and dey shout say government don neglect dem after dem serve di country with their life.

One of di protesters, Sgt Idris Usman, talk say dem follow due process retire, but now government dey tell dem say dem no go collect minimum wage adjustment or palliative because dem leave for July.

Another person, Corporal Umar Faruq (retd), talk say Military Pensions Board dey claim say dem no qualify for new minimum wage because dem discharge on July 1, 2024.

Chairman of Military Pensions Board, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Adamu, and other senior officers try talk to di protesters but dem no gree hear.

Later, officials from Ministry of Finance come invite some of di ex-soldiers and MPB chairman enter closed-door meeting to talk about di matter.

No official statement come out after di meeting, but tori wey reach ground talk say government beg dem make dem give small time to work with di board to find solution.

Security people don now dey guard di ministry to make sure everything calm.