Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi - Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station

The Minister of Defence Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd) has inaugurated a 9-man Committee to look into the demands of the retired members of the Nigerian Armed Forces for payment of Security Debarment Allowances, (SDA).

General Magashi said the inauguration of the Committee is in fulfilment of his promise made when he met last month with the leadership of all veteran groups over their demands at the Ministry of the Defence.

He said members of the Committee are carefully selected based on their pedigrees and in compliance with the principles of fairness, balance and justice to look into the areas of agitations regarding Security Debarment Allowance and other related issues.

While tasking the Committee to be above board in the discharge of their onerous task, the Defence Minister said the welfare of the Military retirees is dear to the heart of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.

He put on record what he called the unprecedented welfare initiatives of the Federal Government aimed at improving the living standards of serving and retired members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

According to the Minister of Defence the implementation of the Manual of Financial Administration (MAFA) which came into effect on 9th November 2017 and Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service 2017 are testimonies to the sincerity of President Muhammadu Buhari to improve the livelihood of the serving and retired Military personnel.

General Magashi (rtd) who challenged the Committee to be guided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Manual of Financial Administration and other relevant documents gave six terms of references. They include the determination of the level of implementation of MAFA with respect to the payment of SDA and other welfare issues affecting the Veterans.

The Committee is also to determine whether or not the SDA should be paid to any category of retirees outside the scope of the specified policy approval date of 9th November 2017 considering all the attendant implications.

Others include determining the effective date of the payment of the SDA where the option of payment is reviewed and adopted and to determine the applicable annual total enrolment (ATE) to be used for each benefiting retiree with respect to past Federal Government’s salary reviews as well as its financial implications to the government based on ATE and to suggest to the Ministry any other ways the Committee deems fit towards the resolution of the grievances of the Veterans over the implementation of the SDA and other welfare matters.

Responding after inauguration the Chairman of the 9- man Committee Rear Admiral Obi Ofodile assured that National interest will not be compromised in the discharge of their assigned task and that members will work with the fear of God .

The Committee had its inaugural session immediately after the inauguration ceremony.

SIGNED

Mohammad Abdulkadri

Special Assistant Media and Publicity To HMOD

The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd) has harped on the need for Muslim Ummah to take advantage of the celebration of the Eidil – Adah, known as the festival of sacrifice to promote peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness in the country.

General Magashi stated this in a goodwill Sallah message through his Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mohammad Abdulkadri.

He said at this period of our national life every Nigerian should be committed to complimenting government’s efforts to end banditry, insurgency and other criminalities in parts of the country.

He pointed out that the security of the nation is a civic responsibility of all and should not be perceived erroneously as the exclusive preserve of the fighting forces.

The minister therefore called for collective resolve to evolve ways to deepen the ethos and ethics of service and sacrifice to the nation at this holy period when Muslims perform sacrificial offerings of rams in supplication to the Almighty Allah.

He noted that the Festival of Sacrifice at this point in time offers splendid opportunity for Muslims to render sincere prayers for the nation to overcome her security challenges.

General Magashi assured that the Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari was deploying sufficient political will and all necessary machineries to decisively deal with all threats to national territorial integrity for peace and tranquility to reign in the troubled spots.

While urging Muslims to celebrate Sallah with due sense of piety, modesty, and decency, he advocated total compliance with the COVID-19 Protocol by using face masks in public places, observing social distancing and washing of hands as well as avoidance of over bloated gathering for congregational Eid prayers.

This he said is in conformity with the Federal Government’s directive and national aspirations to stem the escalating figures of the affected persons and to end the pandemic.

The Defence Minister therefore challenged Muslims to uphold peace for which the religeon of Islam stands for and to be their brother’s keeper by extending kind gesture of sharing of ram meats with Christian brethren to inculcate the spirit of good neighbourliness and to promote inter-religious harmony in the country devoid of dividing lines and antagonistic posture that are capable of jettisoning the much needed societal peace.

The Defence Minister felicitated with Muslim Ummah and wished all Nigerians restful and memorable Sallah work-free days.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to accept the offerings of sacrificial rams by Muslims as act of Ibadah now and in the hereafter.

Signed:

Mohammad Abdulkadri,

Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Minister of Defence