The sum of N134.7 billion has been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for the payment of Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) to all veterans.
The President spoke at the launch of the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal fund in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, November 16.
Buhari promised the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of veterans by ensuring prompt payment of their pension and other entitlements, which had been demonstrated by his approval of the payment of SDA to veterans with effect from 2017.
The President commended the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces in confronting banditry, kidnappings, molestations and killing of innocent citizens head-on, saying that these ‘‘vices alien to our culture’’ are on the decline.
He said normalcy is gradually returning to some affected parts of the country due to the increasing military campaign to decimate subversive elements involved in destructive activities such as ‘‘ in the insurgency in North East, militancy in the Niger Delta’’ as well as ethnic and religious tensions in some communities.
The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, pledged that the Ministry would continue to ensure the prompt payment of the entitlements and death benefits of the deceased servicemen.