89-year-old war veteran cries for help over pension

HE walked in to the premises of the headquarters of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of Tribune titles, with high hope following a recommendation from a close ally that “Tribune is a masses oriented newspaper” and his hope of getting across to the authority of the Nigerian Army, to fulfill its promise of paying his pension before the cock crows after him.

Yekini Adebayo, with registration number 63NA/71262, having served the Nigerian Army for 13 years and 137 days narrated how much he had laboured to get enlisted in the pension pay roll of the Nigerian Army following allegations that the army owes war veterans’ after they discharged from the force.

Early this year, some veterans under the umbrella of the Coalition of Concerned Veterans led by its spokesman, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, threatened to embark on a protest in other to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the non-payment of their pension, appealing that the president brings the veterans back on the pension payroll of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“We are not unaware of the dwindling economic fortunes of the country and the far reaching effect in addressing numerous challenges in a country like ours. However, the welfare and well-being of military veterans is top priority because of their sacrifice in nation building and sustainable democracy . Therefore, if democracy must continue to thrive, concerted efforts by government must be geared towards not sending wrong signals to those still serving and would soon join us,” he said.

Yekini Adebayo, born in 1928 explained that he trekked from Idi-Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government are of Oyo state to the headquarters of the Tribune house, adding that he will return home the same way and exhibiting pride at the training he went through as an officer in the 13 years he served the country especially his two years at the war front.

Age is however not friendly on his voice as it wobbles to tell his story.

“What I need now is help. I want Tribune to help me because a close neighbour told me that its only Tribune that is masses’ oriented that can help me in such condition. 37 years after service, I have not received any form of pension except gratuity paid at the point of discharge.

“I am using this medium to appeal to the authority of the Nigerian Army to fast track the payment of our pension. By 2015, we were invited for data collection which we did. Since then, we have not heard anything. I am getting old. A lot of our people are dead now, some through sickness, some because of lack of care while several others are now incapacitated. It will be a thing of joy for us to receive our money with our hands. Most of us that are still around are old,” he said.

Today, Mr Adebayo carries around a copy of the screening exercise done at the Odogbo cantonment, Ojoo, Oyo state, by the Military Pensions Board, signed by an officer- Adeyinka Adebena, with verification completed on October 19, 2016.

It was recorded in his clearance certificate that Mr Yekini Adebayo with service number 63NA/71262 was enlisted in the Nigerian Army on January 15, 1968 and discharged from the service on May 31, 1979.

From the document, though Mr Adebayo was adjudged to be a “genuine pensioner” by the screening board, but the “old man” is concerned about the exact time the evidence from the document will metamorphose into real cash.

“I want Nigerian Army to pay me my pension because time is ticking,” he concluded.