By Fatima Saka
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has assured Nigerian military veterans that adjustments to the salaries of serving personnel will result in consequential increases in their pensions, as the Defence Headquarters steps up efforts to improve their welfare.
Oluyede gave the assurance on Thursday during an interactive engagement with veterans from the North-East Zone in Yola, Adamawa State, where concerns over salary increments and other welfare issues dominated discussions.
The CDS said the ongoing salary increment exercise was all-inclusive, explaining that under existing policies, any adjustment to the emoluments of serving personnel comes with a corresponding review of veterans’ pensions.
He said the Defence Headquarters remained committed to ensuring that retired military personnel enjoy dignity and improved living conditions after years of service to the nation.
Oluyede also highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the lives of veterans and their families, including collaboration with the Bank of Industry to facilitate access to low-digit loans for business enterprises.
He said the intervention would benefit serving and retired personnel as well as their families, while the ongoing construction of a Defence Hospital would reserve a percentage of its services for veterans.
According to the CDS, the initiatives have the support and approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who provided resources to appreciate the sacrifices of serving and retired personnel.
The veterans used the engagement to present other welfare concerns, with Oluyede assuring them that the issues would continue to receive appropriate attention.
The meeting, which was the second in a series of planned zonal consultations with veterans across the country, provided an avenue for frank dialogue and renewed confidence between the military leadership and retired personnel.
Veteran leaders at the engagement included the President of the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers Association (RANAO), Major General H.A. Salihu (rtd), Major General L.P. Ngubane (rtd) and Air Vice Marshal N.E. Nzokala (rtd).
Speaking on behalf of the veterans, the RANAO President expressed appreciation to the CDS for the engagement and called on retired personnel to support the efforts of the Armed Forces leadership under General Oluyede to improve the welfare of personnel and veterans.
In his closing remarks, Oluyede paid tribute to veterans for their sacrifices in defending the country, stressing that although they had taken off the uniform, the nation’s gratitude for their service would remain.
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“The uniform may have been taken off, but the nation’s gratitude will never fade,” the CDS said, assuring the veterans that the Defence Headquarters, under the Ministry of Defence, would continue working to improve their welfare.
He added that Nigeria would always cherish the courage, service and sacrifices of those who served to keep the nation safe.
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