…AFTER PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES N123 BILLION, REJECTS TWO WEEKS PLEA BY MINISTER
By Okosun Dennis
Military veterans under the aegis of the Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces and the Coalition of Concerned Military Veterans, on Monday, September 26, 2022, staged a peaceful protest over the non-payment of their Security Debarment Allowance, among others, at the Ministry of Defence, in Abuja.
The protesting retired military officers erected a tent and blocked access to the Ministry of Defence located at Ship House on Olusegun Obasanjo Way in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to the National Secretary, REMENAF, Ambassador Roy Okhidievbie, said this was the third phase of the series of protest stages by the veterans.
They had in January this year, picketed the ministries of finance, Defence, and the National Assembly to lure them into paying them what they are Constitutionally entitled to; which was learnt that the President, Muhammadu Buhari has graciously approved a huge sum of N123billion to defray the payment.
The National Secretary, REMENAF, Ambassador Roy Okhidievbie, further explained that the peaceful protest was to demand the payment of their Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) owed them by the federal government, adding that the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd.) had refused to disburse the allowances despite approval by the president.
Okhidievbie said, “We have had meetings with the Defence Minister, Magashi, but he appears to be headstrong, heartless, and unperturbed concerning the grievances of retired military officers, as he never paid nor showed any interest or concern to pay these allowances, especially the Security Debarment Allowance.
“In a quick reaction contained in a letter signed by the Director Joint Services, Mrs O.M Mustapha, on behalf of Minister of Defence dated 26th September 2022, and addressed to the Coordinator, Coalition of Concerned Veterans said that the grievances of the veterans have been noted based on the protest and gave two weeks to revert to them saying that steps are being taken to timely implementation of the approved allowance.
However, after the letter was read by the spokesperson, Amb. Roy Okhiedievbe was met with thunderous rejection and vowed to continue to block the defence ministry’s gate until a reasonable conclusion.
The letter read in part: SECURITY DEBARMENT ALLOWANCE
Reference your peaceful protest at the Ministry of Defence on 26th September 2022, I am directed to inform you that all your grievances have been noted.
“The Ministry wishes to state its commitment to seeking a lasting solution to all the problems you have highlighted and steps are being taken to ensure the timely implementation of the approved Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) by Mr. President to all concerned veterans.
“In line with our commitment, the ministry will revert to you within the next two (2) weeks on progress made on the matter. Please accept the assurances and warm regards of the Honourable Minister.”
However, Roy further explained that the President Buhari-led regime has approved the payment of this allowance, but Magashi have refused to make disbursements.”
Also, the spokesperson for the Coalition of Concerned Military Veteran (CCV), Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, explained that today’s protest was focused on the non-payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, adding that they were determined to sleep over at the entrance of the Ministry of Defence.
Durowaiye-Herberts said, “We’re here, alongside our wives and children, and the widows of late military personnel and veterans who died in service, some of whom died fighting Boko Haram terrorists.
“We’ll be sleeping over at this place until the Minister of Defence, Magashi accede to our demands.”
A young woman, Anna Nanven, whose husband, a Corporal, was killed by Boko Haram terrorists during an attack on a military barracks in Borno State, in 2015, narrated that she had only received one allowance disbursement since her husband’s demise.
Mrs Nanven said, “My husband was a young man, a Corporal that was killed by Boko Haram terrorists during an attack on the barracks where he worked.
“I am pleading that the President, the Minister of Defence, and Nigerian citizens come to our aid. I and my five children are suffering and living in poverty because I can’t afford to start a business, and I have no job.”
It would be recalled that the 2nd phase of the protest was held early this year, on 5th January 2022 where the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Defence (MOD) and National Assembly were picketed in pursuit of the same demands across major cities in Nigeria.
However, in a press statement signed on behalf of the Minister of Defence on the 15th of September 2020 by the Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Honourable Minister Of Defence, Mohammad Abdulkadri, the Minister of Defence said the implementation of the Manual of Financial Administration (MAFA) which came into effect on 9th November 2017 and Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service 2017 are testimonies to the sincerity of President Muhammadu Buhari to improve the livelihood of the serving and retired Military personnel.
“General Magashi (rtd) who challenged the Committee to be guided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Manual of Financial Administration and other relevant documents gave six terms of references. They include the determination of the level of implementation of MAFA with respect to the payment of SDA and other welfare issues affecting the Veterans.”
It is a surprise according to some protesting veterans to see that the same minister is denying veterans the payment having been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to page 98 of the manual (MAFA) under the sub-heading: Security Debarment Allowances explicitly stated that every retired military man living or dead is entitled to the allowance.
“Security Debarment Allowance is an allowance payable by each service to all personnel on retirement from service or death. The essence of this allowance is to debar personnel from employing skills acquired in service against the state after retirement. The amount payable is 10% of annual salary at the time of retirement multiplied by the total number of years of service.”
Besides, it would shock that military veterans have not been fully paid the consequential minimum wage increase over years ago. “At the moment, we are still owed a Quarter of the year’s payment being the accrued arrears they started paying since January 2022,” one of the protesting soldiers narrated.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/retired-soldiers-invade-defence-ministry-over-unpaid-debarment-allowance/
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