The Federal Government is preparing to withdraw the controversial Veteran Federation of Nigeria Bill after military retirees raised strong objections to several of its provisions.
The retirees have warned of possible protests if the government moves forward with presenting the bill to the National Assembly without addressing their concerns.
Since its inception, the bill, which was sent to the Defence Headquarters and the Ministry of Justice, has faced criticism over several contentious clauses, particularly those related to rank-based appointments.
In an interview with The PUNCH on Friday, Secretary of the Coalition of Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, confirmed the government’s decision to withdraw the bill.
He shared that the decision followed a meeting with the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence earlier this week.
“Based on the meeting we held with the Permanent Secretary on Monday, he assured us that the bill would be withdrawn. A ratification committee will be inaugurated, which will include staff from the Ministry of Defence, members of the National Assembly, representatives from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, and veterans,” Durowaiye-Herberts explained.
The committee, he said, would be tasked with reviewing and correcting the contentious parts of the bill, ensuring that leadership positions within the veterans’ structure are democratically elected, and ultimately presenting a revised version to the National Assembly for consideration.
Durowaiye-Herberts further stated, “Although the permanent secretary told us that the process might not be finalised before the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, he assured stakeholders that the committee’s work would be completed by the end of the month.”
Veterans have expressed cautious optimism about the committee’s efforts, stressing the need for transparency and swift action.
“We are hopeful that this process will address our grievances and establish a structure that truly represents our interests,” he added.
Attempts to reach the Ministry of Defence’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogbuike, for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls and had not responded to a text message.
