The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an annual event which takes place every January 15 in honour of fallen heroes who lost their lives during the Nigerian civil war and the first and second world wars and also the survivors – who are the Legionnaires. President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday in Abuja alongside government officials and service chiefs to laid wreaths in honour of Nigerian soldiers who died in active service.

Other dignitaries who performed the wreaths laying ceremony at the event include Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, acting Chief Judge of the Federation and Justice Walter Samuel Onoghen. Also the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, service chiefs, Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Mikah Gaya, members of the diplomatic corps and other prominent citizens.

Aside from the wreaths laying ceremony, the President used the opportunity to make video conference calls to Nigerian troops in the battlefields in Sambisa Forest, Yola in Adamawa and to those serving in UN Peace Mission in Liberia.

The President spoke first to the Nigerian troops fighting the Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa Forest in Borno, saluted their courage and urged them to continue to maintain discipline and efficiency they were known for.

He said, “Your success was received spontaneously by all Nigerians. I congratulate you and I thank you very much for the honour you have done to the country and to us, well done. I wish your families are all well and are getting in touch with you.

“Please maintain the standard of discipline and efficiency. Thank you very much indeed.”

Also addressing members of the Nigerian battalion serving with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia, President Buhari, who congratulated the soldiers, wished them a successful mission abroad. The President, who commended members of the armed forces serving with the UN across the world, said the Federal Government was monitoring their performance. Special prayers were also offered in honour of the fallen heroes.

The retired soldiers expressed displeasure with the management of monies being generated on armed forces emblem and accused the leadership of the Nigerian Legion in Kano state of embezzling the annual donation. One of the retired soldiers, Abubakar Aminu told journalists that he never benefitted from the yearly donations just as he questioned the credibility of those entrusted to manage the funds.

“We only hear millions of naira every year, we don’t know where the money goes. Nobody, not even the leadership of the legion would tell us where the money is going and when you ask the chairman, no serious response,” explained Abubakar.

Another retired soldier, Iliasu Tsoho also said, “The purpose of the money being generated we were told is to be used to assist families of the late soldiers. Many children who lost their fathers on active service don’t have any source of finance now. If you go to the state secretariat of the legion you will see how many of the retired soldiers who cannot feed themselves left alone send their children to school. Honestly, so many soldiers are suffering because they were unable to receive their pension for several years.”

The chairman, Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Chapter, Col Samuel Akanbi (Rtd) said the government must act beyond the yearly ritual of praying and laying of wreath and look into the plight of the military pensioners, saying many had died of sickness due to non-payment of pension arrears. Akanbi urged the state government to look into their plights and also consider engaging members of the Legion in the security plans of the state so that the ex-service officers can bring their wealth of experience to bear on in security matters.

The Spokesman of the Retired Army, Navy, and Air Forces Association (RANAO), Captain Abdulmaliq Yusuf, called for the abolition of the yearly ritual, describing the celebration as a waste of resources which ought to have been deployed to take care of retired soldiers.

These allegations call for the government to go beyond the ‘Traditional Remembrance’ ceremony in commemoration of the labour and sacrifice of the men of the Armed Forces and pay more attention to the welfare of its former military personnel. This would boost the morale of those who are currently in service and are faced with risks in a bid to protect the country or as peacekeepers outside the nation.