The Nigerian Legion has organised a retreat for its chairmen and secretaries of the state branches, headquarter senior staff and commandants of corps of commisionaires in order to better the lives of ex-servicemen in the country.
The event took place at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Camp, in Jos from 1st to 3rd November, 2018.
The participants at the three-day event with the theme Harmonizing and Aligning the Nigeria Legion activities for more effective role play were urged to become inhabitants of peace in the country.
Speaking during the retreat, National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Brigadier General Adakole Akpa (Rtd) said that the participants were drawn from 36 states including Abuja, adding that the retreat was organised to aggressively reposition veterans to begin to play their vital roles for the betterment of the nation.
Brig.-Gen. Akpa, represented by Major Gabriel Ad’ofikwu (Rtd) added that the retreat charged the veterans to dust themselves and work towards changing the perception of the general public that were looking at them as unproductive.
He said, “We are working to change the perception of general public that veterans are unproductive or liabilities, but before we change the perception we have to dust ourselves,”
General Akpa lamented that society’s attitude towards ex-serviceman despite sacrificing a lot for the nation has made life difficult for the veterans.
He said, “Some of the challenges veterans were facing included society’s attitude towards ex-servicemen and there are things not put in place for the veterans to flourish despite sacrificing so much for the nation.”
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for the prompt payment of pension, General Adakole urged government at all levels and general public to give special places in public transport to veterans.
“Veterans should be given special places in public transport, discounts should also be given to veterans at groceries and canteens. We need to be given employment opportunities too,” he said.
