Reps begin hearings on Defence bills to strengthen military, veterans’ welfare
By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja
ABUJA — The House of Representatives on Monday commenced a two-day public hearing on a series of defence-related bills aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s military structure, improving personnel welfare, and enhancing the Armed Forces’ capacity to respond to emerging security threats.
Opening the hearing at the National Assembly Complex, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said the proposed legislation forms part of the 10th House Legislative Agenda and is a response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
He noted that the country continues to face insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central, separatist agitations in the South-East, as well as growing threats such as cybercrime, maritime piracy and organised crime linked to terrorism.
“We cannot pretend that our nation is at ease. Our Armed Forces are stretched, yet they remain our first and last line of defence,” he said.
According to him, the bills under consideration seek to modernise the legal and institutional framework governing the military, making it more accountable, inclusive and responsive to contemporary security realities.
Among the proposals are a bill to establish an Armed Forces Farms and Ranches Scheme to enhance food security in conflict-prone areas, legislation to improve gender inclusion in the military, a new Nigerian Military Force Bill to replace the existing Armed Forces Act, and a bill to establish a Veterans’ Federation of Nigeria to improve welfare for retired personnel.
Tajudeen stressed that the process was not a “rubber stamp” exercise, assuring that all submissions from stakeholders would be considered in the final report.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, said the hearing was designed to ensure broad stakeholder participation in defence policymaking.
He said the proposed laws cover military training, operational coordination, healthcare, research and doctrine development, governance reforms, food security initiatives and veterans’ welfare.
Benson commended members of the Armed Forces for their sacrifices in safeguarding the country and urged stakeholders to actively contribute memoranda and presentations.
The hearing also featured divergent views on the proposed Veterans’ Federation of Nigeria (VFN) Bill, particularly from retired military personnel.
Some stakeholders, including G.A. Olonisakin, argued that the proposed structure aligns with international best practices, citing models in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, where veterans’ organisations operate as associations while welfare is managed by government agencies.
Others, however, opposed the bill in its current form, arguing that it concentrates leadership positions in the hands of senior officers and does not adequately reflect the interests of lower-ranked veterans.
A retired non-commissioned officer and legal practitioner, Sadiqe Nwabuezeh, described the proposal as skewed and called instead for the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Veterans Affairs managed by former service members.
He argued that veterans should have greater control over institutions created for their welfare and insisted that representation must be more inclusive across all ranks.
The public hearing is expected to conclude with recommendations that will guide the House Committee on Defence as it finalises the bills for further legislative consideration.
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