President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the payment of the Security Debarment Allowance for veterans that lingered for a long.
The President has also approved the creation of Veterans department in the ministry of Defence as part of the ongoing reforms.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana stated these during an interaction with Defence Correspondences in Abuja since his assumption of duty four weeks ago.
He said the Ministry of Defense was undergoing a reform to take the shape of the Pentagon in the United States of America.
”Early this year, the military veterans, under the aegis of the Coalition of Concerned Veterans, embarked on a nationwide protest with a vow to disrupt the celebration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day on January 15 but suspended the protest following the intervention of the Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashir Magashi”.
”But the retired military personnel vowed to resume their suspended protest over the non-payment of their Security Debarment Allowance”, Dr Ibrahim Kana explained.
The Permanent Secretary said the ministry despite the economic downturn enjoys 100 per cent budget funding from the government, and Recently, the President unanimously approved the debarment allowance for veterans.
Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana Also announced that the Ministry would reform its Health services to personnel and veterans as well as the educational sector for better welfare of members of the Armed Forces and their dependents.
Cov/ Chukwuma Agbanusi