…SAYS NO FRESH VERIFICATION BEFORE PAYMENT
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, has brokered peace with veterans who have been keeping vigil at the Ministry of Defence gate protesting over the failure to pay them their Security Debarment Allowance (SDA).
Veterans in their large numbers besieged the ministry’s gate on Monday to drive home their demand for the payment of SDA as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, based on information making the rounds, the Permanent Secretary debunked the allegation that the money has been released and denied to the Veterans by the authorities of the Ministry.
According to him, “Being the Accounting Officer of the Ministry, I am urging you to give peace a chance and go home. We will get back to you as soon as possible and without delays.”
He pointed out that the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) is concerned about the plight of the veterans.
The Permanent Secretary assuaged the fear of the Veterans on the issue of a fresh Verification Exercise before payment stressing that the existing database of all Veterans will be used to administer payment.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, thanked the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, for speedily resolving the impasse and appreciated the protesters for their peaceful conduct.
The Spokesman of the Retired Veterans, Biodun Durowaiye-Herberts attributed the misinformation and insinuations to the Communication gap between the Veterans and the Ministry to which the Permanent Secretary assured them of the free flow of information on the issue subsequently.
The Veterans agreed to go back home immediately and have since cleared the barricade to signal the return of peace as they said they are now better informed than before and promised to work closely with the Ministry moving forward.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/veterans-protest-perm-sec-dr-kana-makes-peace/
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