By Harriet Tornguvan
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for deliberate national policies, stable funding, and coordinated institutional support to ensure sustainable welfare for military veterans across the country.
According to a statement by Army spokesperson Colonel Appolonia Anele, the army chief made the remarks while receiving the Chairperson of the Nigerian Legion, Grace Morenike Henry, during a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
General Shaibu stressed that the credibility of any professional military, including the Nigerian Army, is measured not only by its operational successes but also by how it treats its retired personnel.
He noted that officers and soldiers who served in demanding operations nationwide deserve structured post-service support systems that reflect national gratitude and long-term strategic planning.
The army chief observed that many leading militaries around the world operate comprehensive veterans’ welfare programmes backed by legislation, clear policies and guaranteed budgetary provisions.
The statement said that he urged Nigeria to strengthen existing frameworks so that retired personnel can transition smoothly into civilian life without economic hardship.
Describing veterans as valuable national assets, Shaibu encouraged retired soldiers to participate actively in politics, governance and public policy advocacy, noting that their leadership experience, discipline and security knowledge position them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He also called for stronger engagement with the National Assembly of Nigeria particularly the Nigerian Senate and the Nigerian House of Representatives to advance legislation that would strengthen veterans’ welfare and reinforce the country’s security architecture.
Shaibu further noted that many retired personnel possess administrative, logistics and technical skills that can be redeployed in both public and private institutions as consultants, management professionals and advisers.
He encouraged veterans to document and publish their professional experiences to preserve institutional knowledge, enrich strategic discourse and create additional income opportunities.
Earlier, Henry highlighted key challenges facing veterans and personnel nearing retirement. She cited low public awareness of the Legion’s statutory role and limited societal appreciation of veterans’ issues as major constraints.
She added that national attention to veterans’ welfare often peaks only during the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day instead of being sustained throughout the year.
Henry also pointed to the absence of a dedicated budget line for veterans’ affairs in the national appropriation structure, which she said forces reliance on irregular interventions and inconsistent funding. She therefore advocated the creation of a fully funded ministry solely dedicated to veterans’ affairs to provide clear policy direction and institutional coordination nationwide.
The meeting, she noted, reaffirmed the army’s commitment to pursuing a holistic, policy-driven approach to veterans’ welfare built on legislative backing, fiscal responsibility, institutional collaboration and sustained national recognition of service.
