The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has urged retired personnel to assist with advice that could help tackle insecurity in the country.
Yahaya said their opinions could enhance ongoing operations across the country, urging them to feel free to approach the service.
He spoke on Tuesday at the Combat Arms Training Week 2022 with the theme, “Effective combat arms manoeuvre: A panacea for success in battle.”
These were contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.- Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu.
The statement was titled, ‘COAS calls on retired officers to feel free to offer opinions that could enhance ongoing operations.’
Nwachukwu quoted Yahaya as calling on retired officers of the Nigerian Army “to feel free to offer opinions and suggestions that could benefit ongoing operations to tackle insecurity in the country.”
But some ex-servicemen who fought on the side of the Nigerian government urged the military to see to their welfare to get the best out of them.
The ex-military men under the umbrella of the First Intake Able Voluntary Retired or Discharged Ten or More Years in Military Service said the experience of those who fought World War II helped a great deal during the civil war.
The group’s National Coordinator, Babawande Philips, said until retired personnel are treated in high regard, none would be willing to give useful advice.
He said, “You can’t take away experience in every aspect of life. During the civil war, we benefited immensely from retired military personnel who fought World War II. What is the Boko Haram fight compared to the civil war? But you don’t expect us to offer our advice when we are poorly treated. Our entitlements have not been paid since we left the military about 44 years ago.
“Many of us have died as a result of hardship, and many of us are in dire need of medical attention. The most painful thing is that those who fought in support of Biafra have been pardoned and received their pensions.”
The Armed Forces should see to the welfare of retired personnel if they want the best from them when they retire.”
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