By
Gloria Abutu
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has assured veterans of the Armed Forces of Nigeria of the military’s commitment to improving their welfare.
General Oluyede gave the assurance in Yola during an interactive session with veterans from the North-East.
He described the retired personnel as important partners in promoting national unity and security, saying the engagement was aimed at leveraging their training and experience in intelligence gathering and decision-making, particularly to obtain information from communities.
The Defence Chief disclosed that the military was collaborating with the Bank of Industry to provide veterans with low-interest loans to establish businesses and secure sustainable livelihoods.
Reacting to the recent protest by some veterans, Oluyede said the protesters were misled and misinformed.
Earlier, the Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Gideon Kachim, pledged the Defence Headquarters’ commitment to the welfare and development of retired personnel.
He said the meeting was an opportunity to listen to veterans and address their concerns, particularly issues circulating on social media.
The National President of the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers Association, retired Major General Abayomi Salihu, expressed confidence that the concerns of retirees would be addressed.
Salihu clarified that the veterans who staged the recent protest were not registered members of the association.
The engagement, organised by Defence Headquarters, focused on veterans’ welfare and administration, while seeking to harness their experience as a force multiplier towards strengthening the proposed Armed Forces of Nigeria Defence Reserve Force.
