The National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Grace Henry, has called on the federal government to harness the vast experience/expertise of military veterans in tackling national security.

Ms Henry made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of the legion and the commemoration of her one year in office as the first female national chairman of the organisation.

The anniversary celebration is tagged “Celebrating 62 Years of Courage, Commitment and Legacy of Nigerian Armed Forces Veterans.”

She said veterans possessed invaluable operational knowledge, training and discipline acquired during years of military service, which could contribute significantly to community safety and national security if properly engaged and empowered.

“You cannot do away with the experience of veterans. They have lots of experiences that can be deployed in addressing the insecurity confronting the country today.

“We want government and other stakeholders to empower veterans so they can participate fully in efforts aimed at securing our communities and the nation at large,” she said.

Ms Henry said also that adequate support in the areas of healthcare, housing and economic empowerment would enable veterans to contribute more effectively to national development and security.

She urged veterans to remain committed to the ideals of service by supporting security efforts within their localities.

She said, “As veterans, let us key into the federal government’s agenda to ensure our communities are safe.

“It is no longer time to play ‘I don’t care’ with security. Remember the saying, ‘Once a soldier, always a soldier’. Let us be soldiers indeed, anywhere and anytime.”

The national chairman of the Nigerian legion said that the legion had partnered with the Institute of Disaster Management and Safety Science (IDMSS) to equip veterans with relevant skills and knowledge that would enable them to contribute meaningfully to community security and emergency response.

According to her, the training is designed to prepare veterans to respond appropriately when unexpected situations arise and refresh the knowledge acquired during their years of military service.

“The essence of the course is to build us up to know what to do when the unexpected happens. You all know that the security situation in the country is not good,” she said.

She added that the organisation, established under the Nigerian Legion Act of 1964, remained committed to promoting the welfare of ex-servicemen and women, fostering comradeship among veterans and supporting the families of fallen heroes.

She noted that the legion had evolved into a nationwide institution with structures across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, playing key roles in veteran advocacy, welfare support, remembrance activities, youth development and community engagement.

Reflecting on her first year in office, Ms Henry said efforts had been made to reform and reposition the legion to improve the lives of veterans and widows of fallen heroes amid limited resources.

“My vision is to create a better life for veterans and restore respect, dignity, pride and honour not only to the families of fallen heroes but also to our living veterans,” she said.

She announced that as part of activities marking the anniversary, the legion would empower 30 widows with grinding and tailoring machines, while 32 male and female veterans would receive grants of N100,000 each to support their livelihoods.

She also reiterated the legion’s opposition to repealing the Nigerian Legion Act to establish a Veterans Federation of Nigeria, advocating instead for amendments to the existing law and the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Veterans Affairs.

According to her, the Nigerian legion remains the only body recognised by the federal government for the welfare of ex-servicemen and women.

She thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing her as the first female veteran to lead the organisation and appreciated the support of the ministry of defence, the Armed Forces and other stakeholders toward the welfare of military veterans.

(NAN)