The National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Morenike Grace Henry, made the appeal in a statement on Thursday, commending the veterans for their decision to call off the protest and urging them to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation in pressing their demands.
Henry said the Legion understood the economic difficulties and anxiety surrounding the welfare of retired military personnel, but maintained that continued dialogue with the government remained the best approach to resolving the issues.
She assured the veterans that the federal government had given firm assurances that all outstanding entitlements, including approved pension increases, would be paid, stressing that the welfare of former members of the Armed Forces remained a matter of national priority.
“Federal government has given its firm assurance that all outstanding entitlements and the approved pension increases will be fully paid,” she said, adding that veterans were held “in the highest esteem” by the government.
The Legion chairman reminded the retirees of their sacrifices to the country, saying their years of service to the nation had not been forgotten and that efforts were ongoing behind the scenes to resolve administrative bottlenecks delaying the payment of their entitlements.
“You have sacrificed your youth for the peace of this nation, and that sacrifice is not forgotten,” Henry said, assuring veterans that the government was working to ensure that every entitlement due to them was cleared.
Beyond pension and other financial concerns, she disclosed that the government was also prioritising the health and welfare of wounded and physically challenged veterans through planned interventions.
According to her, the Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Legion were pursuing strategic partnerships and international support aimed at significantly improving healthcare services for war-wounded veterans.
She disclosed that specialised interventions were being established to provide prosthetic limbs for amputees, hearing aids for veterans with auditory impairments, corrective eye surgeries for those with visual ailments, as well as wheelchairs and other mobility aids for physically challenged veterans.
Henry, however, urged the retirees to remain disciplined, orderly and law-abiding, noting that such values were part of the military training that shaped their service to the country.
She cautioned the veterans against allowing their community to be exploited by individuals seeking to cause civil unrest, insisting that the current challenges could be resolved through constructive engagement with the authorities.
“Change and relief are on the way,” she told the veterans, while appealing for continued patience as the government works to address their grievances.
The Legion chairman thanked retired military personnel for their continued loyalty, dedication and patience, assuring them that the organisation would continue to advocate for their welfare while seeking peaceful solutions to their concerns.
