AFRD: Veterans Ready For Intelligence Gathering, Sharing-Chairman

Nigerian Veterans say they are available for intelligence gathering and sharing based on their wealth of knowledge gathered over the years in the course of their service to the nation.

The Chairman, Military Veterans Welfare Committee (MVWC), Air Commodore Isaac Oguntuyi Retired, made this known while speaking to Voice of Nigeria on the occasion of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Isaac said “concerning the training veterans had, the government should take good care of the men and women that served the country who are still alive”.

He noted that they have already given their lives for the country considering their contributions for the betterment of the nation and their age.

Isaac added that as a result of persistent outcry by the retired military personnel about their low pensions that could hardly cater for their basic needs, the immediate past President graciously approved an upward review of the veterans’ remuneration in November 2017.

According to him, there are some painful stories behind why 15th January came to be over the years as a nation to realize that for these men and women, a day is needed for us to look back at their sacrifices.

He said wearing the emblem makes him feel proud and at the same time, sad when he thinks of those officers that lost their lives for those who are still living.

The Chairman said that “the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is another area that needs to be drastically reviewed”.

According to him, the present state in which veterans are not considered for treatments on some categories of ailments does not augur well for their welfare.

Thus, the need to make health coverage of the scheme more effective, expanded and beneficial to veterans, widows and orphans cannot be over emphasized.

“All these burning issues call for very urgent intervention. It is in this view that we are requesting Mr. President to kindly direct for the approval of bulk payment of the balance of the Security Debarment Allowance to all veterans using same equitable payment template for all, regardless of retirement year, the approved SDA fund will need to be augmented in order to be able to pay all veterans in bulk and using the new template of salary scale for everyone and a new salary structure, amongst others.”

He said that he is proud to be a Nigerian as he appreciated the Minister of Defence, Dr. Abubakar Badaru, the Permanent Secretary Minister of Defence, Abubakar Gana for their commitment to veterans’ welfare.

He re-echoed President Bola Tinubu’s call to ‘let Veterans breathe.’