By SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN—THE National Association of Military Pensioners, weekend, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Ministry of Defence to pay all military pensioners the 53 per cent pension increment and arrears owed to them.

The pensioners, in a communiqué signed by the national Acting President, F. E. Ugbokplor and national Acting Secretary, Comrade P. O. Okpaiyo, also urged the Federal Government to cushion the effects of the petroleum subsidy removal which they said, “is adversely affecting the military pensioners.”

While describing the manner in which military pensioners are being treated, as provocative, the communiqué described as frustrating “a situation where military pensioners who fought for the unity of the country, are denied their rights. Those ex-soldiers who fought to keep this country united are dying in abject poverty as there is nothing to show for laying down their lives in service to the nation.”