On Monday, the minister of defence, Muhammad Badaru, said the federal government was very passionate about the welfare of military veterans across the country.

Mr Badaru said this when he received a report from the military veterans’ ministerial welfare committee at the Ship House, Abuja.

This is contained in a statement by Henshaw Ogubike, director of press and public relations at the ministry.

The minister also called for more engagements between the ministry and the military veterans’ ministerial welfare committee to be able to take care of their needs.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu appreciates the military for laying down their lives for peace and security in Nigeria.

“We are passionate about the welfare of the veterans. We will work with you to overcome the problems, and nothing will be too much to support you.

He added that the ministry would look at the submitted document for further engagement.

“We will look at the document for further engagements and seek further ideas.

“I assure you that we will follow it religiously. Let us keep engaging for the better welfare of the veterans,” he said.

Similarly, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Ibrahim Kana, said there was no more intervention budget.

Mr Kana advised that since the 2024 budget had been submitted to the National Assembly for approval, there was a need for the military veterans to engage with the National Assembly for a way out.

“Mr President wants everything to be budgeted for. I advise you to liaise with the National Assembly so that something can be done,” he advised the committee.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, retired Air Commodore Olufemi Oguntunyi, thanked the minister for authorising the formation of the committee.

Mr Oguntunyi noted the minister’s passion for issues concerning the veterans’ welfare and his listening ears to their report.

“This is the first time we are asked to submit our challenges in a report form. We have done that, and we have put it in an executive summary; with that, all these agitations will not come up again,” he assured the minister.

(NAN)