Former military head of state Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has called for improved funding and stronger welfare support for military veterans and the families of solrs who lost their lives while serving the nation.
Babangida made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Nigerian Legion led by its National Chairman, Morenike Henry. The meeting took place at the former leader’s residence in Minna, Niger State.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Legion’s Media Officer, Oloriegbe David.
During the meeting, Babangida acknowledged the concerns raised by the Legion regarding the welfare of retired solrs and assured the delegation that he would engage relevant authorities to explore solutions to the challenges facing veterans.
He also praised the leadership of the Nigerian Legion for its commitment to advocating for the recognition and welfare of former military personnel across the country.
According to Babangida, the sacrifices made by veterans in defending the nation should never be ignored, stressing that the government must ensure adequate support for those who served in the armed forces.
Earlier, Morenike Henry outlined several major challenges affecting veterans and the families of fallen solrs. She highlighted issues such as inadequate medical assistance, limited funding for healthcare services, and economic hardship experienced by widows of solrs who d in active service.
Henry appealed for financial support that would provide widows with assistance equivalent to five to six months of their late husbands’ salaries. According to her, the support would help many of them elish small businesses and improve their livelihoods.
She noted that many solrs enlist in the military at a young age and often face limited support systems after retirement or when they lose their lives during service.
The Legion chairman also reiterated her call for the elishment of a Ministry of Veterans Affairs that would provide a structured and sustainable system to support retired military personnel and their families.
In a separate engagement, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye, advised the leadership of the Nigerian Legion to avoid staging protests while pursuing their demands.
Undiandeye commended the proposal to create a Ministry of Veterans Affairs and emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in the management of funds allocated for veterans’ welfare.
He urged the Legion’s leadership to prioritise initiatives that would directly improve the wellbeing of veterans and their families.
The defence intelligence chief further stressed that constructive dialogue with government authorities remains the most effective way to secure policy support and adequate funding for veteran related programmes.
In response, the chairman of the Nigerian Legion expressed appreciation to the Chief of Defence Intelligence for his support, particularly for assisting in the successful hosting of the Nigerian Legion Council meeting.
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