The Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers’ Association (RANAO) had appealed to the Federal Government to pay the balance and arrears of the 53 percent increase in pension since 2010.
The newly elected National President of RANAO, Lt.Col Tony Ogbomo (Retired) made this plea in Abuja at the Inauguration of the elected executives officers of the association.
Ogbomo said that the patience of the members of the association for the past four years ought to have yielded some dividend of good luck.
He urged the government to harmonise their pension with salaries of their colleagues still in the service.
The president also called for the review of supervising organs for the welfare of veterans adding that this would aid in the effective transformation of veterans in the country.
According to him, the Nigerian Legion Act should be reviewed and the legion transformed into a proactive, vibrant and productive organization.
“The Veterans Affairs Department in the Ministry of Defence should be reorgnised into a more effective and efficient welfare –oriented establishment to be headed by a retired military officer. And manned by military retirees and discharged personnel. The Military Pensions Board should be restructured to allow for a mixture of both active and retired personnel in its employment so s to ensure checks and balances and flow of information, ‘’ he said.
Ogbomo said that all veteran organizations in the country should be synergized under the umbrella of a new body –the Nigerian Veterans Federation or Veterans Federation of Nigeria.
He said that the challenges he highlighted had continued to plague the retiree but noted that the association was grateful to God for providing them with outlets that can take them to the “Promised Land.
“Firstly, we have a listening president who is interested in the promotion of the welfare of people he governs , and who by now , is aware of our plight. I hereby appeal to all and sundry to individually and collectively support RANAO in our earnest desire to ensure that “the labours of heroes past shall never be in vain. Please join us to sustain our meritorious retirement, ‘’ Ogbomo added
The newly executive members of the association were elected on May 22, 2014 in Kaduna at the 27 Annual General Meeting (AGM) .
Those elected are Retired Lt.Col. Tony Ogbomosho, National President, Maj.-Gen Alexander Mishelbwala) National Vice President , Lt.Col . Ralph Ugwo, Secretary-General, Brig-Gen. James Adejo Treasurer.
Others are Retired Lt-Col Ikechukwu Nwajagu, Publicity and Liaison Secretary, Maj Christopher Olajide, Assistant Secretary –General Wi ng Cdr Nuhu Gambo , Social and welfare Officer amongst others
RANAO was established as RANAO Club of Ibadan in 1987 and launched nationally as RANAO Club of Nigeria in 1992 by President Ibrahim Babaginda. RANAO was change to an Association at it AGM on June 23, 2011.
