…hails Tinubu’s efforts at enhancing veterans’ welfare
Former Chief of Defence Employees, Basic Fortunate Irabor (Rtd), has emphasised the necessity for stronger civil-military relations to stop the navy from being perceived as anti-people.
Irabor made this assertion on Tuesday whereas delivering a lecture titled “Celebrating the Armed Forces of Nigeria in Nationwide Improvement” on the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess, Abuja.
The lecture was a part of actions organized by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to mark the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.
The occasion was attended by notable former chiefs of defence workers and repair chiefs, together with Basic Alex Ogumodhia, Basic Martin Agwai, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, and Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahya.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political historical past, Irabor famous that the navy’s involvement in political management at sure intervals had strained its relationship with the general public, resulting in distrust and disrepute.
He known as for deliberate efforts to rebuild and keep mutual belief between the armed forces and the civilian populace.
He stated: “Whereas the event is an aberration and never a product of the navy establishment, it has been a problem for a lot of elites within the geo-political area to know that the navy itself is the primary sufferer of navy rule in Nigeria. On this regard, the resonant narrative, inadvertently or in any other case, deepens the gorge in Civil-Army relations to the detriment of the state. This have to be reversed.
“It have to be reiterated that navy political management of the nation is by a choose group of people. It should not be construed to be an institutional association. This place have to be understood as a way to optimize the lofty contributions of the navy in nationwide improvement.

“It have to be said and understood that when political energy is thrust on navy leaders by the society, navy professionalism suffers. In the long run, the State suffers because it can not endure below a scenario of devalued navy professionalism. Due to this fact, an improved or flourishing civil-military relations, which democracy gives have to be relied upon to upscale the skilled standing of the navy. Imperatively, this serves our collective good for safety and improvement.”
In response to Irabor, Civil-military relations should not be adversarial as a way to obtain the aim {of professional} disposition of the navy.
He, subsequently, appealed for a heightened consciousness programme on the immense advantages the nation derives from cordial and flourishing civil-military relations.
How stated: “The celebration of veterans and energetic responsibility personnel is an efficient a part of the attention programme. The Armed Forces should not be seen to be in battle with the folks. It’s an ailing wind to take action.
“The navy exists for the great of the state and its residents. The general public should resist any try to convey the impression that the navy is accountable for the order of the nation or the angle that the navy is working towards the curiosity of the folks. Such a view is misleading. Any misdemeanor by particular person navy service personnel shouldn’t be construed to be institutional behaviour. The navy establishment already has established disciplinary protocols to deal with points bothering personnel that cross skilled boundaries.
“There might be, and positively there are, challenges with the navy establishment. Nonetheless, there are institutional mechanisms designed to deal with them in due deference to the norms of goal civil management of the navy. Our collective aspiration ought to be to have the optimum effectiveness of the navy in nationwide development and improvement and never in any other case.
He stated the navy has contributed to nationwide improvement not solely by way of the protection of a nation’s sovereignty but additionally as an energetic participant in shaping socio-economic development, peace, and stability.
The previous defence chief advocated improved welfare and nicely being of veterans to allow them to contribute to society, even after retirement.
He stated that the sense of responsibility and patriotic disposition of the veterans may serve helpful functions in numerous sectors of the Nigerian economic system.
Irabor stated that within the space of safety, veterans may function a part of the early warning programs in numerous elements of the nation the place they’re domicile and as a part of the staff of first responders to safety threats in numerous communities.
He added that they may additionally help in safety coverage improvement on the neighborhood degree and in addition function a part of native legislation enforcement or civil defence and emergency companies.
Irabor counseled President Bola Tinubu for enhancing the welfare of veteran by way of the signing of the Harmonized Phrases and Situations of Service for the Armed Forces.
“Most of the points contained therein have an effect on veterans. Moreover, there was a need to enact the Veterans Affiliation Invoice to deal with a few of the administrative points affecting Veterans,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Employees, Basic Christopher Musa, assured that the Armed Forces would proceed to take care of the usual of professionalism.
“…We’re dedicated in doing this. We love our nation and we would like the perfect for our personal nation”, he stated.