Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the unflinching support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria in their bid to end the security challenges in the country.
Dr. Kana stated this in his maiden interaction with Defence Correspondents at the headquarters, Ministry of Defence, Abuja.
He noted that despite the economic meltdown, the MoD enjoys 100 percent budget funding by the government.
Kana said the positive disposition of the President towards the military made him approve the payment of Security Debarment Allowance for veterans.
He also disclosed that the President has approved the creation of Veterans department in the ministry.
He said the Ministry of Defence was undergoing a reform to take the shape of Pentagon.
He said “President has given approval for reform of the Ministry of Defence into our own Pentagon, in this case they will be deployment of senior military officers working alongside Civilian staff.
“We’ll not be directly involved in Operations but we’ll handle the policy aspect of the Ministry of Defence to ensure the best for our troops.
“Veterans, people that have fought war for Nigeria, the president has given an approval for a whole department of veterans services.
“Recently, the President unanimously approved the debarment allowance for all veterans. For the veterans, I think better days are ahead”.
He continued “We are also reforming our health services to provide for personnel. A soldier who present himself may have to pay the ultimate price and wounded and even incapacitated. Therefore, we are reforming our health services department to provide quality health service to our personnel.
“We are also reforming education, we are going to reform education in the command and secondary school. Armed personnel have children and they have to go to school and that is our responsibility.
Earlier, the Director, Press of the Ministry, Mrs. Victoria Agba-Attah said the interaction was organised to deepen the working relationship between the ministry and the Press.
