This is to intervene on a pressing issue that has sparked controversy across our nation.
The recent threat of a shutdown of some of the nation’s facilities by some Voluntarily Discharged Nigerian Soldiers over “claims of unpaid entitlements” is a development that warrants strong condemnation.
While we acknowledge the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform and understand if they have legitimate grievances, including but not limited to unpaid Service Discharge Allowance Balances, Salary Arrears, Medical Retirement Benefits, and Short-Paid Packing Allowances, as they claimed, but we cannot condone any form of protest that undermines national stability.
The Nigerian Army leadership, the Defense Headquarters, including the leadership of other sister service agencies, the Federal government through the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Defense have already engaged with the retired army and other military personnel on this issue and promised to intervene, which has now been ongoing.
We commend the Federal government and the leadership of the Nigerian Army and that of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for taking proactive steps to address these concerns and for prioritizing the payment of entitlements of their personnel and also for engaging in constructive dialogue with the Soldiers involved to resolve these issues promptly.
In strongest terms, we condemn this resort to protest, which appears to be politically motivated and aimed at bringing down the reputation of the military institution where these individuals served and retired.
Such actions are unacceptable and it undermines the sacrifices made by our military personnel.
We warn that such acts should be stopped henceforth, as they threaten the stability and progress of our nation.
It’s essential to note that the issue of unpaid entitlements, minimum wage, IPPS, are not limited to the military alone; it’s a broader issue that affects various sectors.
However, the Nigerian Army professionalism and discipline are crucial to national security, and any actions that compromise these values are concerning.
We express strong disappointment about the actions of some retired military personnel who were involved in such protests, which contradict the military training they underwent, since there are internal mechanism to resolve issues whenever they arose.
The Nigerian Army has a history of professionalism, and it’s essential to uphold these values.
Let us work towards finding a peaceful resolution that upholds the dignity of our military institutions while maintaining national stability.
We owe it to our nation and our heroes to promote dialogue and understanding.
We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve these issues.
In conclusion, we reiterate our condemnation of the protest and call on the Federal Government to prioritize payment of entitlements and engage in dialogue with any retired personnel that might have genuine grieviances.
We are confident that the present government, which has shown commitment to the welfare of our military personnel, will address these concerns promptly.
Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi.
Convener (Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria)
