Armed Forces Remembrance and issues of veteran welfare

 

As Nigeria celebrates the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day BENJAMIN SAMSON examines the plight of retired military personnel.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is celebrated on January 15 annually. It was formerly celebrated on November 11 of every year to coincide with the Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) for the World War 11 veterans in the British Commonwealth of Nations. It was, however, changed to January 15 in Nigeria in commemoration of the surrender of Biafran troops to the federal troops on January 15, 1970, thus bringing to an end the Nigerian Civil War.

Significance

Speaking with our reporter, Colonel Musa Maijika (retd.) said the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration as an annual event organised to honour members of the Nigerian Armed Forces who fought for the nation, and those who served or are still serving in various peace support operations worldwide, as well as those who fought in the Nigerian civil war, was quite significant.

He said: “The day is mapped out to celebrate both the dead and the living heroes, including all those who suffered various deprivations as a result of wars.

“Annually, this national day celebrates military personnel including the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Legion.

“They all converge on different centres across the nation to celebrate the day and give honour to the fallen and living heroes who risked and continue to risk their lives for the territorial integrity of the nation.

“The event is held at the federal, state and local levels where either serving military officers reside or where living ex-service men occupy.

“In commemorating the day, several military traditions are strictly adhered to. Whether marked at the federal, state, or local level, some symbolisms are sacrosanct and they include the release of pigeons to symbolise peace, placing of wreaths, playing of the last post, Remembrance Day parade, shooting of guns.

“Besides the above listed, the event also witnesses religious services in both mosques and churches nationwide.

“At the parades, the military personnel are usually kitted in diverse colours typical of their services be it navy, air force, army or ex-service men.”

Welfare of veterans

A burning issue that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day usually throws up every year is the welfare of retired soldiers who put their lives on the line in defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a chat with Blueprint Weekend, a retired soldier, Sergeant Samaila Sambo, lamented the poor living condition of ex-servicemen.

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to save them from hunger and poverty.

The veteran said some of his colleagues, who fought in the Nigeria Civil War between 1967 and 1970, serving for about 10 years and above, were still unpaid.

He said: “The situation of our men is very terrible, some are sick and cannot even afford to feed themselves.

“Some cannot afford a meal per day; some with health challenges don’t have money to maintain their health challenges such as blindness, stroke and others homeless.

“On November 17, 2022, N134.7 billion was approved by President Buhari’s administration to pay the pensions of Military Veterans who fought in the Nigeria Civil War and won to take of themselves and their families. However, since the money was approved by President Buhari, the money is yet to be paid to us.

“We humbly appeal to our President and those in charge to pay the veterans and put a smile on us as we commemorate the 2023 armed forces Remembrance Day this year.”

Military pensioners’ protest

Similarly, military pensioners had in November 2022 staged a protest march at the headquarters of Ministry of Defence, Abuja over non-payment of their Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) among other demands.

The military pensioners blocked the access road to the Ministry, Ship House, located in Area 10, Garki.

The pensioners, who staged the protest on the aegis of the Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces (RMNAF) and the Coalition of Concerned Veterans, accused the Minister of Defence, Major Gen. Bashir Magashi (Retd) of insensitivity to their plights.

Addressing journalists during the protest, spokesman of the pensioners, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, said the veterans were determined to remain at the ministry’s entrance until their demands were met.

“We are here alongside our wives and children, and widows of late military personnel and veterans, who died in service, some of whom died fighting Boko Haram terrorists. We will be sleeping over at this place until the Minister of Defence, Magashi accedes to our demands,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the National Secretary of RMNAF, Roy Okhidievbie, explained that the demonstration was to demand the payment of their security debarment allowance owed by the federal government.

He wondered why the minister had refused to disburse the allowances despite approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We have had meetings with the Defence Minister, Magashi, but he appears to be headstrong, heartless, and unperturbed concerning the grievances of retired military officers, as he never paid nor showed any interest or concern to pay these allowances, especially the security debarment allowance.

“Interestingly, President Buhari-led administration has approved the payment of this allowance, but Magashi have refused to make disbursements,” he said.

Also speaking, Anna Nanven, whose husband, a Corporal, was killed by Boko Haram terrorists during an attack on a military barracks in Borno state in 2015, said she was yet to receive any allowance or entitlement since her husband’s demise.

“My husband was a young man, a corporal that was killed by Boko Haram terrorists during an attack on the barracks where he worked.

“I now live with his parents, and I had five kids, three females and two males for him. The children are aged, 22, 20, 18, 15, and seven and the two eldest, both girls, that are done with high school but can’t go to the university because I can’t afford their school fees”, she lamented.

“I am pleading that the president, the minister of defence, and Nigerian citizens come to our aid. I and my five children are suffering and living in poverty because I can’t afford starting a business, and I have no job,” she added.

The retired military personnel had also protested at the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly to press home their demands.

FG heeds their cry

However, the Military Pensions Board (MPB) says it has commenced payment of Security Debarment Allowances (SDA) to military retirees and next of kin’s of deceased military retirees, who are entitled to the debarment allowances, with the qualified year for beneficiaries put in 2017.

Chairman, Military Pensions Board (MPB), Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal, who disclosed this in Abuja, noted that the commencement date for the payment was effective yesterday, January 5, 2023. He said the payment would cover the first and second tranches, which is for the first and second quarters in 2023.

Rear Admiral Lawal emphasized that the payment was in fulfilment of the presidential approval of the provisions of the reviewed Manual of Financial Administration, MAFA, 2017.

“The beneficiaries of these payments are: military retirees on the MPB database who retired before November 9, 2017, deceased military retirees who were alive when the MAFA was signed on November 9, 2017, and non-pensionable retirees who retired before November 9, 2017, but were only paid gratuities,” he said.

The MPB statement read: “Sequel to the approval given by the President and C-In-C, President Muhammadu Buhari, for the payment of the SDA to military retirees who originally were not covered by the 9 November 2017 effective date and the agreement reached at the ensuing tripartite meetings of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, and representatives of the veteran associations.

“The MPB wishes to inform our esteemed military retirees and the general public that the Board has commenced payment of the first and second tranches (that is, for 1st and 2nd Quarters 2023) of the SDA to eligible military retirees/Next of Kins (NOKs) of deceased military personnel.

“The payment, which is in fulfilment of the Presidential approval of the provisions of the reviewed Manual of Financial Administration (MAFA) 2017 will commence on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

“…However, our esteemed retirees are please requested to note that the SDA is calculated as a function of 10 per cent of the retiree’s annual basic salary as at the time of retirement multiplied by the number of years served in the services.”

Annual fundraising not sustainable

Meanwhile, a security expert Hassan Shugaba, has advised the federal government to set up a standing welfare fund to cater for war veterans and families of fallen heroes.

In a chat with Blueprint Weekend Shugaba condemned the annual ritual of fundraising for the purpose, stating that it was not sustainable and should be discouraged.

He suggested that the federal government should set up a standing fund which would be replenished with the yearly budgetary allocation as it is done in countries that truly value the contributions of the security agencies.

According to him, the day set aside to launch the emblem should only be for remembrance purposes, reflecting on the sacrifices made by men and women of the armed forces in keeping Nigeria together and ensuring that peace prevails in the country.

He said, “I think that we are tired in this country with every year meeting to launch emblem to support families of the fallen heroes. What I thought, as is done in advance countries, the day should be used for remembrance of their (veterans) efforts.

“That means, by now, as a country, we should have a standing fund that will take care of the families of the fallen heroes. That is what serious countries should be talking about.”

Shugaba noted that when such fund is established, the call on individuals and corporate entities by legionnaires will not be the norm anymore.

He pointed out that it becomes a mockery when the day is spent in soliciting financial support as an enduring measure of sustenance for legionnaires.

“When you say you solicit for support of corporate bodies; they laugh at us and ask: what kind of country is this? People who have fought for you? People who have laid down their lives for you to be alive, to survive? And we are still talking about how do we support them,” he queried.

He added that the seeming poor treatment of the veterans was the reason why officers of the nation’s security agencies are not committed to professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

“They know when they die, all they will hear is launching of emblem to help their families. So, they are involved in so many things to take care of their families in case anything happens to them.

“That is why, the oil bunkering business seemed to have continued unabated even if it is economic sabotage, which is allegedly aided by the security agencies,” he added.