It was a pathetic sight in Lagos State on Wednesday, as spokesperson of the Nigerian Legion of ex-service men in the state, Col. Ebenezer Sholotan gave details of what his colleagues experience daily as a result of the poor welfare package they get from the Federal Government.
Sholotan particularly complained that many of his colleagues had died because they have been forgotten by the same country they spent their lives fighting for. He disclosed that so far in the state, over three million ex-service men had not collected their four years pension arrears.
“The Federal Government hasn’t been fair to ex-service men in the country. The worst treatment anyone could get from the government of his fatherland is what the Legion is receiving from the central government”, Sholotan, who made this startling disclosure at this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony performed in the state, complained.
“For four years, the Federal Government hasn’t paid our pension arrears. Our widows are dying and the Federal Government showed no concern to our plight. This has compounded the suffering of some of the widows of ex-service men, some of whom now sell bean cake by the road side today”.
He further lamented that the government was not showing any concern to their welfare. “Every year, they assure us that the fund has been included into the budget but at the end of the year, the fund isn’t paid to the pensioners”, he said.
He explained that depending on the year of retirement, each of the ex-service men is expected to collect N20, 000, an amount he said “cannot be compared to the allowance they allocate to themselves.
“That is why we are disturbed and embarrassed. We risked our lives for the development of this nation, but the Federal Government isn’t concerned about our welfare”.
In her speech, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the deputy governor of the state, who represented her boss, Governor Babatunde Fashola, decried the situation of ex-service men, saying it is not fair for them to be treated with disdain after showing love to the country through thick and thin.
She expressed concern about the sufferings of the widows and relatives left behind by fallen soldiers. Reading the speech on behalf of Fashola, she said that issues of security, as stated in the 1999 constitution remained the sole responsibility of the Federal Government just as she wondered why the Federal Government is shying away from its responsibility as stipulated on the Exclusive List of the constitution of the country.
“The central government should also ensure that widows of fallen heroes have better care. They cannot lose their love ones and suffer again. That is double trauma. The Federal Government should consider this as utmost priority.
“And because we know the importance of welfare to this people, the Lagos state government has been hosting the legions and responding to their care. We have a better welfare package for any officer posted to Lagos and we will continue to ensure that they get robust care in Lagos state”.
Describing the ceremony as a time for sober reflection by the citizens and government of the country, she said the wreath-laying ceremony was necessary as it is meant to pay respect to fallen heroes and show care to their widows and relatives.
