The Military Veterans Welfare Committee (MVWC) Tuesday appealed to President Bols Ahmed Tinubu to review the implementation of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), pensions and other benefits of serving and retired soldiers and officers of the country’s Armed Forces.
The appeal was made by the chairman of the Military Veterans Welfare Committee Air Commodore Oguntuyi (rtd) at a press conference in Abuja ahead of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day scheduled for January 15, 2024.
He said the payment of security debarment allowance should be equitable and standardized across all retirement years.
He also stressed the need address the significant inconsistencies in pension payments.
Oguntuyi also called for a thorough review of military’s pay structure, citing morale issues stemming from disparities.
On the need to ensure fair treatment of veterans, Oguntuyi suggested a comparison with international military pay charts, particularly referencing systems in countries like the United Kingdom and India.
He called for the establishment of a Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN) to streamline and centralize veterans’ concerns.
He also advocated for a comprehensive overhaul of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to better serve the health needs of the veterans.
Oguntuyi also expressed gratitude to the President and government representatives for their commitment to veterans’ welfare.
He thanked the President in advance for considering the committee’s requests and reaffirmed the veterans’ commitment to supporting the government’s efforts.
He urged his fellow veterans to remain patient as the government works towards implementing the necessary reforms.
