Staff locked outside Finance Ministry as Voluntarily Discharged Soldiers protest unpaid entitlements (Pictures)
Story by Vivian Okafor
Workers at the Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters in Abuja were locked out of their offices following an early morning protest by Voluntarily Discharged Soldiers over unpaid entitlements on Monday, 4 August 2025.
A group of voluntarily discharged soldiers from the Nigerian Army are currently staging a protest to demand the immediate payment of their outstanding entitlements.
The ex-soldiers, who disengaged in the first and second quarters of 2023 and officially left service in February 2024, gathered calmly with a banner highlighting their grievances.
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They called for the prompt settlement of their gratuity, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and packing allowance, expressing frustration over the prolonged delay.
Insisting that their patience had run out, they urged the relevant authorities to stop further procrastination and fulfil their lawful obligations without delay.
Despite their grievances, the protest remained orderly, with the discharged soldiers determined to make their voices heard through nonviolent means.
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Meanwhile, the aggrieved ex-soldiers have barred staff members from accessing the Finance Ministry building. Police, military and security personnel are stationed at the premises to maintain law and order.
A banner outside the gate, seen by Neptune Prime read, “We, the 1st and 2nd quarter voluntarily discharged soldiers of 2023 who disengaged from the army on the 15th February 2024, demand immediate payment of our shortfall of gratuity, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) and our packing allowance.
Signed: Voluntary Discharged Soldiers.”
See pictures below:
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