- Meets with leadership of veterans union, assures of President Buhari’s well-being, warns against implications of the protests
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has pleaded with the leadership of the Coalition of Concerned Vetarans (CCV) to shelve further protests to press home their demands for payments of Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) and other allowances.
General Magashi, who spoke during a meeting with the leadership of the Coalition of Concerned Veterans at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House Abuja, said protest is not the best option and the solution to their grievances with the government especially at this period in time when the mood of the nation does not call for such action.
While assuring them of President Muhammadu Buhari’s continous commitment towards mitigating their plights, General Magashi said the recommendations by the various Committees he set up to look into their demands have undergone several exhaustive stages that will culminate into implementations as applicable .
According to a statement by the Minister’s Spokesperson, Mohammad Abdulkadri, General Magashi, a retired Army personnel, warned against fueling chaotic situation capable of sending wrong signals to the International Communities, calling for enduring patience.
He pointed out that their agitations are not beyond amicable resolutions.
Earlier, the Team Leader of the Six- man delegation of the leadership of the Coalition of Concerned Veterans, Commodore MF Daniel (rtd) had itemised the agitations of members that led to the January 5th peaceful protest in Abuja and other parts of the country to include non payment of the arrears of Minimum wage and the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA).
Other demands, according to Commodore Daniel, include Salary disparities and Non capturing of some Civil War Veterans on the pay roll.
While justifying the recent protest against the backdrop of the loss of some members to lack of access to Medications and affordability to pick up medical bills, he appealed to the government to expedite action to pay up the. outstanding arrears.
Other members of the veteran delegation who spoke include the Convener of the protest, Commander Abiodun Durowaiye (rtd) who is the Spokesperson for the Coalition of the Concerned Veterans and Oamien Roy Okhdevbie.
In the same vein, Chairman, Military Pensions Board , Rear Admiral Saburi Abayomi Lawal, explained the Presidential directive regarding the Implementation of the Consequential Adjustment Payments, while the Director, Medical, overseeing the office of the Permanent Secretary Olajide Johnson and Acting Director, Ashigye Willie John explained some technical procedure and administrative processes to be followed in Implementing the recommendations of the Committees on SDA and the reform.