Government to pay Military Veterans- Defense Minister reaffirms.

The Minister of State for Defense and Veteran affairs Hajjat Oleru Huda Abason has revealed government’s plan of embarking on a country wide exercise intended to verify the Military veterans payroll.

According to the Minister, the exercise is slated for 17th January to 4th February 2022 and will be supported by the offices of the Residence District Commissioner, District Internal Security Office, LC5 chairperson office plus the judiciary.

“This process is geared towards updating records to ensure payroll integrity, for smooth payment of pensions and gratuities to the Military veterans or survivors who have not yet received money from government” she added

Hajjat Oleru clarified that a total of 10 zones have been organized country wide to ease the exercise where as dates of the Ministry officials visits to various districts will be displayed at their headquarters by 7th January 2022.  

The backlog category that consists of living veterans, estate of veterans deceased in retirement, those deceased in active service plus Ex-gratia living veteran and estate are required to all present National IDs, LC 1 letters, Bank statements and others to be fit to collect these benefits.

The other category the “payroll” that also includes living veterans on payroll, and the deceased in active service on payroll beneficiaries are required to present National IDs, Death certificates, bank statements plus physical appearance of the widow and orphans etc.

The Minister however cautioned the claimants for pensions and gratuities of the deceased who have not yet obtained letters of administrations, to first hold a family meeting with full authorization of the Chief Administrative Officer of the district were the deceased lived and then  in the meeting they should choose a representative who will then represent them in applying for the letters of administration at the magistrate's court in  the area of origin of the deceased.

Further more, she also equally cautioned  those that have not yet registered and obtained their national ID’s to coordinate with NIRA to obtain them and also those with dormant bank accounts to visit the local branch offices to ensure that they are made functional.

Finally, the Minister lauded to all Military veterans and survivors to be patient as the government is currently mobilizing resources to pay their statutory dues to improve their welfare and called upon them to avoid fraudsters who purport to help them process their payments faster.