Abuja, Feb. 19, 2026 (NAN) The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu says sustainable welfare for military veterans must be anchored on deliberate policy frameworks, predictable funding structures and coordinated institutional mechanisms capable of delivering long-term impact.
This was contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele on Thursday in Abuja.
According to the statement, Shaibu said this while receiving the Chairperson of the National Council of the Nigerian Legion, Ms Grace Henry during a courtesy visit at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
The COAS said the true strength of a professional military institution laid not only in its operational effectiveness but also in the dignity with which it treated its veterans.
He noted that the sacrifices of officers and soldiers who served in complex operational theatres across the country must be matched with resilient post-service support systems.
Shaibu observed that leading military institutions globally have institutionalised comprehensive veterans’ welfare systems backed by law, policy clarity and guaranteed budgetary provisions.
According to him, Nigeria must consolidate and expand existing frameworks to ensure retired personnel transition into civilian life without socio-economic vulnerability.
The army chief described veterans as strategic national assets, and encouraged retired personnel to actively engage in politics, governance and policy advocacy.
He stressed that their leadership experience, discipline and crisis-management skills uniquely position them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He also called for constructive engagement with the National Assembly to champion legislative initiatives that would strengthen veterans’ welfare and reinforce the country’s security architecture.
Shaibu added that many retirees possessed administrative, logistics and management expertise that could be redeployed across public and private sectors.
He urged them to document and publish their professional experiences to preserve institutional memory and enrich national discourse.
Earlier, Henry outlined key structural challenges confronting veterans, including low public awareness of the Legion’s statutory mandate and limited societal appreciation of its responsibilities.
She observed that attention to veterans’ welfare often peaked during the annual Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, rather than being sustained throughout the fiscal year.
The legion chairperson also highlighted the absence of a dedicated budget line for veterans’ affairs in the national appropriation framework, leading to inconsistent funding.
She advocated the establishment of a fully funded ministry dedicated exclusively to veterans’ affairs to provide institutional coherence and structured policy direction nationwide.
The engagement reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to advancing a holistic, policy-driven approach to veterans’ welfare anchored on legislative support, fiscal responsibility and national recognition of service. (NAN)
