President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the payment of Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), to the deserving retired Military Officers and Personnel.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashir Magashi at a meeting with the leadership of all cells of Veteran Associations held at the Federal Ministry of Defence Headquarters Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.
General Magashi said “the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, has approved the sum of One Hundred and Thirty- Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty -Three Naira, Sixty- Nine Kobo (N134,749,953,243,69).”
He explained further that the money is to be paid to those earlier excluded Veterans who retired earlier than 9th November, 2017.
The Defence Minister however told the elated members of the veteran community that the outstanding SDA Allowance will be paid over a period of 3-5 years since government cannot afford to pay in a tranche.
Payment modalities
The Defence Minister however told the Veterans that the Ministry of Defence has taken steps to facilitate seamless payment of the SDA to qualified Veterans through the review of the effective date of the Manual for Financial Administration, (MAFA), 2017 to be handled by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) while the Verification of Veterans for the payment will be done by the Military Pensions Board (MPB).
The Minister of Defence thereafter allowed members during the interactive questions and answer sessions to air their views to which he cleared the air on issues raised.
These include date for the commencement of payment and the general concerns that 3-5 years’ timeline is too long to earn their entitlements for fear of death according to a statement by the Ministry.
Other area of concern by the Veterans centered on Defence Health Insurance Scheme DHIS, to which the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Kana, allayed their fears that the ongoing reforms in the Military hospitals will take care of their desire for healthy living in retirement.
Appreciation
The Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Retired Major General Abdulmalik Jibril appreciated the Minister of Defence for the success attained with the Presidential approval for the payment of SDA.
He explained that the Nigerian Legion is an umbrella body for all the Veteran Association and must be recognised as such.
He equally appreciates General Magashi and President Muhammadu Buhari for their unwavering commitments towards actualising the payment of the much talked about SDA on behalf of members.
Olusola Akintonde
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