FG rolls out enhanced medical support amid veterans’ calls for pension increase

The Federal Government has rolled out enhanced medical support for military veterans, aiming to improve their healthcare access and overall welfare.

This comes amid calls for an upward review of pensions and gratuities, with retirees citing the rising cost of living, fuel price hikes, and transportation challenges.

The intervention was unveiled during a medical outreach organised for veterans as part of activities marking the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD), held on Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of ex-service personnel.

Pheelangwa said the outreach was designed to support veterans, particularly those who could no longer adequately cater for their health needs.

“This is essentially our way of giving back to society by reaching out to veterans who are unable to care for themselves,” he said.

Pheelangwa explained that the outreach was not limited to Abuja, noting that similar exercises had been conducted in several locations nationwide to maximise impact.

According to him, AFCRD is an annual event, and while the current outreach is tied to the 2026 celebration, other institutional mechanisms remain in place to address veterans’ long-term welfare.

He disclosed that veterans could access lifelong medical care through accredited Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) upon proper registration.

“Once veterans are registered with the HMO, they are entitled to medical facilities for life,” Pheelangwa said.

The National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Grace Henry, clarified issues surrounding healthcare coverage for veterans, describing the outreach as symbolic and critical to their wellbeing.

Henry explained that access to free medical treatment required registration with the Defence Health Maintenance Organisation (DHMO), through which a unique identification number is generated and used at approved hospitals.

She noted that medical bills incurred outside designated hospitals would not be covered, adding that where approved coverage proved insufficient, affected veterans could apply for refunds through the scheme, which would be forwarded to the Ministry of Defence for consideration.

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Henry said honourably retired personnel, including their spouses, were entitled to healthcare benefits, stressing that only those dismissed from service were excluded.

She said the Legion has engaged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to secure subsidised farm inputs and implements for veterans involved in agriculture.

“We have applied with the ministry and discussions are ongoing. Farming is a key area we are advocating for, and we are hopeful of positive outcomes,” she said.

Sharing his post-retirement experiences and expectations, a retired Master Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Air Force, Emmanuel Waniko, called for an upward review of pensions and gratuities, citing inflation, fuel price hikes and rising transportation costs.

Waniko said while access to healthcare had improved through recent interventions, housing support for retirees remained largely absent.

He said he took up farming after retirement, urging government support for veteran farmers through subsidised fertiliser, agro-chemicals and farm machinery, noting that high input costs were eroding the value of pensions.

Another retiree, Magaji Abdallah, a retired Master Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, commended government initiatives, particularly the electronic pension verification process, which he described as stress-free and effective.

“You can do it from the comfort of your home, even from the village, without travelling long distances or queuing for days,” he said.

Abdallah, however, appealed for improved housing policies for retirees and expanded healthcare coverage to include drugs not currently captured under existing schemes.

The veterans expressed appreciation for the medical outreach, while urging sustained reforms and stronger inter-agency collaboration to improve their quality of life and honour their years of service to the nation.

The medical outreach featured free eye checks, High Blood Pressure test and distribution of free test devices as well as treatment and referral for other ailments.

The outreach also involved distribution of 25kg bags of rice to about 100 beneficiaries.