According to the Military Pensions Board, ex-military veterans who fought on the side of the Nigerian government during the civil war are not eligible for monthly pensions.
The ex-soldiers claimed that the federal government had failed to pay their entitlements since they left the military 44 years ago.
The veterans, who were part of the First Intake Able Voluntary Retired or Discharged Ten or More Years in Military Service, also stated that they were being denied pension payments by the Military Pensions Board and that efforts to include them had been futile.
Babawande Philips, the group's National Coordinator, has promised a statewide rally on Wednesday to promote their demands.
However, the board's spokesman, Flight Lieutenant Olayinka Lawal, told our correspondent on Friday that the retired soldiers did not serve for the full 15 years required by the Pensions Act and the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for the Armed Forces of Nigeria to be eligible for the benefits they were seeking.
"The Military Pensions Board wishes to use this medium to react to and correct the complaint made by a group known as the First Intake Able Voluntary Retired or Discharged Ten or More Years Military Service," Lawal added.
"The group alleged that since they were dismissed from the Nigerian Armed Forces 44 years ago, the board had refused to include them on the pension payroll." This is complete nonsense, and it should be corrected.
The board desires to state unequivocally that its actions are governed by the Pension Operate and the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for the Nigerian Armed Forces, and that it would not act in violation of the terms of these statutes.
"It is important to note, for the avoidance of doubt, that some members of this group have previously complained to the Military Pensions Board, and the board has made it clear to them that they are not entitled to the payment of monthly pensions because they did not serve the required 15 years as stipulated by the Pension Act at the time of their retirement."
According to board investigations, the majority of the members of this group retired from the AFN between June 1, 1977, and May 31, 1992. During this time, a retiree must serve in the military for at least 10 years to be eligible for gratuity payments, and at least 15 years to be eligible for monthly pension payments.
Sergeant Kasali Busari, one of the group's leaders, was awarded additional service years for his participation in the conflict, but he still did not fulfil the required years to qualify for monthly pension payments.
"A case in point is the group's leader, 63NA/21654 ex-Sergeant Kasali Busari, who was inducted into the Nigerian Army on July 23, 1967, and retired on May 21, 1978, after serving for 10 years and 303 days," Lawal said. He received an additional two years and 177 days of duty as a bonus for his participation in the Nigerian Civil War.
"As a result, his total service years were 13 years and 215 days." This falls short of the requisite 15 years specified in the Pension Act to qualify for monthly pension payments at the time, but he was eligible for gratuity and was paid appropriately.