AT A 3 DAY WORKSHOP ON THE UNIFICATION OF MILITARY VETERANS ASSOCIATIONS IN NIGERIA

·       HELD AT THE NIGERIAN ARMY RESOURCE CENTER ABUJA BY GENERAL AG OLONISAKIN GSS CMH psc(+) fwc CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF (From 21 - 23 May 2018)

(Reports Amb. OKHIDIEVBIE Oamien Roy)

*DAY 1*

Arrival | Reception | Registration

As a soldier, I have been the one picking up senior Military officers from the Airport. It was a joy to have been picked up at the airport by a Military escort and an air conditioned principal Vehicle. I balanced very well!

was taken to join other delegates at the prestigious Chelsea Hotel Abuja in a VIP suite!

*DAY 2*

We were taken through slides on the ”Veterans Administration in the 21st Century: UK experience “we had a discussion on the paper and attempted to marry it with the Plight of the Nigerian Veterans

ALSO: ”Imperatives for Unification of Veterans ASSOCIATIONs in Nigeria. The key contest here were the implications of the terms COMMISSIONED & NONCOMMISSIONED Personnel? It was generally agreed that we all went through same channels of *CIVILIANS ➡ Military ➡ VETERANS? So there was no point in *ALIGNING & SIDELINES!

*DAY 3*

We went through presentations on ”VETERANS Administration in the 21st century: Egypt experience.“ The paper was discussed and also engaged to review the Nigerian Legion relevance etc.

We then broke into syndicates and I was “Arguably “in the best syndicate 1.... All syndicates later came back together with their submissions and thus was resolved upon;

1) The veterans pledged their loyalty to the federal government.

2) They called for a change upon the way Nigeria treats veterans.

3) They requested for the institution of a lobby group by the Armed forces to ensure the enactment of Armed Forces Covenant To fine tune serving and retired military & veterans as heroes of the country.

4) The veterans Affairs Division should be made a full fledge department under the Ministry of Defence.

5) Veterans Federation of Nigeria to replace the Nigeria Legion.

6) VFN to serve as umbrella to other pressure groups

7) VFN to function at Federal | State | LG levels.

8) DHQ to set up a committee to implement accordingly

9) An annual meetings of all the representatives to commence.

10) Veterans thank the President | CDS | Director Veterans Affairs Department.

We thank Nigeria and Nigerians that are in solidarity with the demands for a better life for Retired Members of Nigeria Armed Forces and the Family of Fallen Heroes!