Jan.15 and Unity of Ex-Servicemen

· January 15, Armed Forces Remembrance Day, is a day set aside by the federal government for Nigerians to remember their fallen heroes.

· Members of the armed forces, through pre-independence, during the civil war to ECOMOG and AU, are making supreme sacrifices. Nigerians should not forget their efforts in making sure we sleep with our two eyes closed. Thus we should reciprocate to ensure the families they left behind are taken care of by the Nigerian Legion which is the umbrella body that oversees the welfare of all ex-servicemen.

· The Nigerian Legion is the only statutorily recognized body that oversees the welfare, enhance and speak on behalf of ex-servicemen.

· Established since 1964, the Nigerian Legion has, through the Act establishing it, Section 11, provides that federal government should fund it but unfortunately nothing has been done. Funding is a huge challenge. There has been no take-off grant, so funding is required to be provided by way of annual budgetary provision so that there could be impact on the lives of military widows, orphans, retirees and dependants.

· The Act establishing the Nigerian Legion has made it possible to establish legitimate businesses through which funds could be realized. This underscores the relevance of funding.

· It is in the light of this that we have put up a request through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to enable the Nigerian Legion to set up a Microfinance Bank that would allow its members access soft loans that would be devoid of the usual commercial banks encumbrances. This would greatly assist our members.

· The Legion also wishes to establish a trauma centre for the treatment of its members who are affected by post- traumatic stress disorders.

· A seed fund is required to address the funding challenge; this will eliminate the need to go cap in hand periodically to ask for donation from the general public through the sale of emblems.

· Patronizing our emblems is a way of responding to our consciences to donate to those who put their lives in the line for you and I. Monies realised from sale of emblems are barely enough to cover even the overhead costs of the Legion with its 36 state chapters and the FCT.

· Though the Nigerian Legion is the only statutorily recognized body of ex-servicemen, this is without prejudice to the right of individuals to form associations, but we should not sow the embers of disunity.

· There are about 15 other association of veterans, they each operate within their articles of operation. Some of these operate as if they’re labour unions devoid of the discipline that the military is known for.

· Such unpatriotic individuals by calling for picketing through uncivilized manner or carrying of placards are exploiting the sentiments of the junior ranks in the military through misinformation about security debarment allowance.

· Thus, there is the need to review the activities of the Nigerian Legion, hence the bill seeking to establish the Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN) would soon be sent before the National Assembly. And a database will soon be set up in order to assess the number of ex-servicemen in Nigeria.

· A remembrance emblem had earlier been launched by President Bola Tinubu which signifies an appeal to Nigerians to donate generously to the fallen heroes in order to take care of their orphans and widows.

· Major Gen. Abdulmalik Jibril (rtd), National Chairman, Nigerian Legion