Remembering our fallen heroes

Another Armed Forces Remembrance Day (January 15) is around the corner. It is a day set aside by the Federal Government of Nigeria to remember its fallen heroes.

A remembrance emblem was earlier 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.

Members of the armed forces, through pre-independence and after, during the civil war to ECOMOG and AU, are making supreme sacrifices and Nigerians should not forget their efforts in making sure we sleep with our 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.

Established in 1964, Section 11 of the act establishing the Nigerian Legion provides that the federal government should fund it, but unfortunately, nothing has been done, so funding is a huge challenge.

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The act establishing the Nigerian Legion has made it possible to establish legitimate businesses through which funds can be realised. 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 will allow its members access to soft loans that will be devoid of the usual commercial banks’ encumbrances. This will greatly assist our members.

The legion also wishes to establish a trauma centre for its members who are affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSDs).

A seed fund is also required to address the funding challenge. This will eliminate the need to go cap in hand periodically to ask for donations from the public through the sales of emblems.

Though the Nigerian Legion is the only statutorily recognised body of ex-servicemen, it does not prevent individuals from forming associations, but we should not sow the embers of disunity.

There are about 15 other associations 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 who often call for picketing through uncivilised manners or carry placards are exploiting the sentiments of the junior ranks in the military through misinformation about security debarment allowance.

Therefore, there is the need to review the activities of the Nigerian Legion, hence the bill seeking to establish the Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN) will 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.

Mj Gen Abdulmalik Jibril (Rtd) is the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion.