After more than 40 years of protests and petitions, retired soldiers who fought for Nigeria during the Civil War are finally set to receive military pensions. The Federal Government has approved their inclusion in the military pension payroll, a move that has sparked jubilation among the veterans.
The announcement came on Monday from Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Retired Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces. He confirmed that 63 Nigerian Army veterans, who had previously been excluded from the Military Pensions Board payroll, have now been considered.
Durowaiye-Herberts stated, “A significant breakthrough has been achieved as veterans of the 63NA battalion who fought on the Nigerian side during the Civil War are now being considered for enrollment into the military pension payroll. “This aligns with previous efforts to integrate their Biafran counterparts, who were earlier granted similar benefits.”
For decades, these ex-soldiers felt abandoned after the Federal Government forgave and granted pensions to their former opponents who fought on the Biafran side. Their repeated protests and demands have finally paid off.
A Long-Awaited Victory
Phillip Babawande, the national coordinator for the Civil War veterans who fought on the government side, expressed gratitude for the long-awaited decision.
Babawande said, “We, the Civil War veterans, sincerely appreciate President Bola Tinubu, the Ministers of Defence, and the Coalition of Concerned Veterans for considering our inclusion in the military pension payroll. It has been a long and arduous journey, and we are grateful that our efforts have finally yielded results.”
Babawande urged the authorities to ensure a swift verification process so that payments could begin without delay. “Many of our members have endured years of struggle. Expediting this process will bring much-needed relief and joy,” he added.
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Government’s Commitment to Veterans
Durowaiye-Herberts also acknowledged the role of key government officials in making this happen. He praised President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, including the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; and the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board, Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson.
He further highlighted other improvements in the welfare of military retirees, including regular pension payments, a new approach to veterans’ engagement, and the establishment of a ministerial standing committee to bridge communication gaps between the Federal Government, the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Headquarters, and the Military Pensions Board.
Relief and Hope for Veterans
The news has brought immense relief to many veterans who had struggled for decades without financial support. Many had felt neglected despite their service and sacrifices.
With the government now addressing their demands, hopes are high that the process will be completed without further delays, allowing them to finally receive the benefits they have long fought for.