A retired war veteran, Colonel Nasiru Salami (retd.), has expressed disapproval of the Nigerian Army, vowing never to allow his children to enlist due to the poor treatment of retirees by military authorities.
Salami, a 76-year-old veteran of the Nigerian Civil War, shared his disheartening experiences during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief as part of the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day commemorations.
The retired officer, who joined the Nigerian Army in October 1967, recounted a career filled with sacrifice, including sustaining an injury to his right foot during the war.
Despite his service, he lamented the neglect he and other veterans have faced in retirement.
“For now, I will never recommend any of my children to join the Nigerian Army. I am their father, and they see my struggles today.
“They would want me to live a life of joy and fulfillment, but I am far from that. I told my two graduate children never to consider joining the army.
“If they must join the armed forces, maybe the Navy or Air Force, where treatment is reportedly better,” he said.
Salami decried the government’s failure to honor its promises, including war bonuses and pensions owed to civil war veterans.
Over 50 years after the conflict, many, including Salami, are still awaiting compensation.
“We are asking for a war bonus. Those of us who fought the war were promised heaven and earth. I retired in December 1983, and they assured us we would receive our bonuses, but up till now, we’ve seen nothing,” he stated.
Salami also revealed that the Nigerian Legion in Lagos alone has over 24,000 members, many of whom share similar grievances over unpaid pensions and unfulfilled promises.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that on Tuesday, retired military personnel staged a protest at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, blocking the entrance with canopies and chairs.
The demonstration aimed to demand the full payment of long-overdue entitlements, including salary increments from January to November 2024, security debarment allowances, and palliatives for October 2023 to November 2024.
Despite a 50% payment made after protests in December, the government has yet to fulfill its promise to settle the remaining balance.
Frustrated by the delays, the retirees resumed protests, effectively halting activities at the ministry.
The protesting veterans emphasized that promises of funds have not been matched by action, leaving many of them struggling to survive.
Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
