“Federal Government Set to Withdraw Controversial Veterans Bill Amid Protests”
The Nigerian Federal Government has decided to withdraw the controversial Veterans Federation of Nigeria Bill after military retirees raised strong objections to several of its provisions. These retirees, concerned about the bill’s impact, had warned of potential protests if the government moved forward with presenting the bill to the National Assembly without addressing their concerns.
At the heart of the criticism are certain clauses related to rank-based appointments, which veterans believe would undermine their representation. The bill had already been forwarded to the Defence Headquarters and the Ministry of Justice for review, but it faced backlash from key stakeholders.
“Veterans Win Major Victory as Govt Agrees to Withdraw Contentious Bill”
In a significant turn of events, the Secretary of the Coalition of Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, confirmed on Friday that the government had agreed to withdraw the bill. This decision followed a constructive meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence earlier in the week, where the government assured veterans that their concerns would be taken into account.
“We were assured that the bill would be withdrawn, and a ratification committee will be set up,” Durowaiye-Herberts said. The committee, composed of Ministry of Defence staff, National Assembly members, representatives from the Office of the Attorney General, and veterans, will be tasked with reviewing the bill and addressing the contentious issues.
“Government to Revise Veterans Bill After Strong Objections from Retirees”
The newly formed ratification committee will focus on correcting the bill’s problematic sections, including ensuring that leadership roles within the veterans’ structure are democratically elected. Once the committee completes its work, the revised bill will be presented to the National Assembly for deliberation and approval.
While the Permanent Secretary noted that the process might not be finalised before the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, veterans have expressed hope that the committee’s efforts will lead to a fairer, more representative bill. Durowaiye-Herberts added, “We are hopeful that this process will address our grievances and create a structure that truly serves the interests of veterans.”
“Nigeria’s Veterans Optimistic as Controversial Bill Set to Be Withdrawn”
Veterans across the country have welcomed the decision to withdraw the bill, with many cautiously optimistic about the promised review. They have emphasized the need for transparency and timely progress in the committee’s work to ensure that their concerns are fully addressed.
Despite attempts to get a comment from Henshaw Ogbuike, the Ministry of Defence’s spokesperson, no response was received by press time. However, the agreement to withdraw the bill marks a key moment in the ongoing efforts to create a veterans’ framework that better represents the community’s interests.
