The National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, retired Maj.-Gen. Abdul-Malik Jibril, has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider an upward review of the pension of military veterans in line with the current economic reality.
Jibril made the plea in an interview with sharpedgenews at the Wreath Laying Ceremony to mark the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day on Monday in Abuja.
He also called for timely payment of the entitlement or gratuity and death benefits of those who paid the supreme price, to their families to reduce their pains.
He said that there should be a corresponding review of pensions of retired veterans as the government is planning to review minimum wage for workers, adding that the current reality demanded holistic intervention.
“We should continue to enhance the wellbeing of those who have left, those families of heroes including those who are serving.
“So, the government should not get tired of looking at the welfare of veterans, especially when it’s related to salary as only serving members of the armed forces are considered.
“There should be a corresponding increase also to the salaries of those who have left, the families of the fallen heroes.
“So, we call on the government to continuously look at our pension and also in relation to the inflationary tendencies that we are all experiencing now,’’ he said.
On her part, the President, Military Widows Association (MIWA), Mrs Veronica Aluko, said the event was a moment of mourning for the military widows as the nation remembered the sacrifices of their late spouses.
Aluko said the association had been making an effort to secure a sustainable means of survival for the widows of fallen heroes to give them and their children a sustainable future.
She said the association was determined to empower the widows to be able to take care of their needs.
“ We don’t want to go cap in hand begging and be told to come back today, tomorrow and in the end people close their doors against us.
“ So, we are hoping and we pray that this present government will be of assistance,’’ she said.