By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has unveiled measures to reposition the Nigerian Legion and strengthen welfare support for military veterans across the country.
Musa, represented by the Chairman, Veteran Affairs Committee, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Abdullahi, announced the measures at a critical stakeholders’ meeting with the Nigerian Legion and service chiefs on Friday in Abuja.
He said the initiatives were designed to address longstanding welfare concerns and provide sustainable support for veterans after years of service to the nation.
According to him, the measures include an online shopping platform, skill-acquisition centres, improved healthcare and access to affordable loans for retired personnel.
Musa said the online shopping platform being developed by the Defence Headquarters would enable serving and retired personnel to purchase goods at discounted prices.
He added that the platform would also provide for the delivery of purchased goods to the preferred locations of personnel and veterans.
The minister said arrangements had been concluded to facilitate access to loans for retired personnel through the Bank of Industry.
He explained that the loans would attract an interest rate of less than 10 per cent, making them more accessible to veterans seeking to establish businesses.
Musa said the ministry was also exploring the establishment of skill-acquisition centres across the six geopolitical zones.
He explained that the centres would equip veterans with additional skills and alternative means of livelihood after retirement.
According to him, the Defence Headquarters has commenced stakeholder engagements at the zonal level, beginning with the North-East.
He said similar engagements would be conducted in the other geopolitical zones to identify the specific needs and challenges of veterans.
The minister further disclosed plans to improve medical support for veterans, including consideration for a dedicated medical centre at the Defence Medical Centre.
Musa said the various measures reflected the administration’s commitment to ensuring that veterans who served the country were not abandoned after retirement.
“The welfare of our veterans remains a major concern, and we must ensure that their years of service are adequately recognised,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Chief of Defence Operations, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdulsalam, said the welfare of retired personnel remained one of the key pillars of his command philosophy.
Oluyede said the CDS had consistently pursued measures aimed at improving the welfare of both serving and retired military personnel.
He recalled that while serving as Chief of Army Staff, he engaged President Bola Tinubu on the need to improve the salaries of military personnel.
According to him, he made strong recommendations to the President, who subsequently agreed in principle to the proposed salary increase.
He said the Federal Government had since announced the new salary structure, adding that the development would also have implications for retired personnel.
Oluyede said he had also approached the President on the possibility of providing loans to retired personnel through the Bank of Industry at an interest rate of less than 10 per cent.
He said the President had agreed to the proposal, while arrangements were being concluded to make the facility accessible to veterans.
The CDS also disclosed that the Defence Headquarters was concluding plans for an online shopping mall for serving and retired military personnel.
He explained that the platform would allow personnel and veterans to purchase goods at discounted prices and have them delivered to their preferred locations.
Oluyede urged veterans to exercise caution over information circulating about their welfare, particularly claims concerning pensions and funds allegedly released by the Federal Government.
He said a committee constituted by the CDS had investigated claims surrounding a reported N250,000 pension and other figures being circulated.
“The committee went to the National Assembly, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Ministry of Finance,” he said.
Oluyede said the committee’s findings established that the information being circulated was incorrect.
He disclosed that desks would operate at brigade, division and other formation levels to enable veterans to table complaints and seek solutions without necessarily resorting to street protests.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Ms Grace Henry, said the committee established by Musa to review the operations and welfare structure of the Legion was concluding its assignment.
Henry said the minister had been concerned about issues affecting veterans and consequently mandated the committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the Nigerian Legion.
She said the committee visited various zonal headquarters, listened to veterans and identified measures to improve their welfare, adding that it had made far-reaching recommendations for submission to the minister.
Henry expressed optimism that implementation of the recommendations would produce a “reinvigorated Nigerian Legion” capable of better addressing the needs and aspirations of veterans.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of the Defence Ministry, Defence Headquarters, service chiefs, Nigerian Legion and other stakeholders deliberated on the welfare and future of military veterans. (NAN)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab