Army chief urges veterans to remain active in retirement
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has urged military veterans to remain active in retirement to promote blood flow and prevent clogging of the joints in old age.
Shaibu said this on Tuesday during the Nigerian Legion Lagos State Council Veterans Day which held at Lagos State Multi Agency Office Complex Hall, Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos.
The COAS was represented by the Director, Veteran Health, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Edet Effiong.
Shaibu said that retirement was not a curse but a time to relax and enjoy past labour, adding that remaining inactive is what breaks down the body and makes sickness overwhelm retirees.
“When you retire from your profession, you can find another vocation that is less active of what you were doing when you were younger in order to remain engaged.
“In this sense, your body will still be active, your blood will still be flowing well and your reasoning will still be apt, instead of sitting idle and allowing sickness creep in.
“So, in the actual sense, we do not actually retire, we only shift vocations to remain active and strengthen ourselves to prepare for unforeseen circumstances,” he said.
The COAS said that the headquarters usually received complaints from veterans bordering on health and monetary issues in terms of entitlements and access to insurance schemes.
“This is why every year, we go to various states to see how our military veterans are doing as well as to visit our military cemeteries to ascertain their conditions,” he said.
Shaibu also urged veteran to take advantage of the Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML) to ensure that their health and that of their families were always attended to when needed.
He explained that the DHML was responsible for administering the health insurance scheme for serving and retired military personnel and their families under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
“While in service, NHIS covered you, but outside service, it does not cover some of the ailments and that is where DHML comes in. So, don’t lose hope,” the COAS said.
Shaibu thanked the veterans for their service to the country and prayed that God would continue to replenish them with good health and vigour.
The Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Council, Mr Akeem Wolimoh, commended the COAS for attending the ceremony, praying to God to help him in his new responsibility of steering the affairs of the military.
