Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has called for better welfare packages for serving military personnel and veterans.
He said neglecting the welfare of service personnel is a disservice to effective national defense.
He spoke while laying the wreaths to comemmorate the 2023 edition of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, held today at Osogbo, the state capital.
The governor said the laying of wreath is an opportunity “to recap our commitment to men and women of the armed forces, living and dead.”
He said the laying of wreath should not be seen as a mere jamboree. “This is not a fun-seeking exercise.
“Our gathering is a solemn tribute to the dead as well as the living,” he added.
Adeleke added: “As I noted during the emblem fund-raising launching, the nation owes a debt of gratitude to our service men and women for their past and present service to the nation.
“Governments at all levels must ensure that our gratitude translate to improved service conditions for service personnel and unconditional care for the veterans and their families.
“I advocate a renewed focus on funding of the security sector alongside security sector reform.
“As a nation, we are faced with mounting security challenges at a time of national and global economic crises.
“National and state leaders must therefore brainstorm on how best to meet the financial needs of the security sector.
“Despite competing needs, a new national dialogue on sustainable funding for the Armed Forces and other security services is necessary, now more than ever before.
“We must re-evaluate our financing options, focusing not just on military hardware.
“We must innovate to care sufficiently for the welfare of service personnel and veterans.
“Neglecting welfare of service personnel is a disservice to effective national defense,” he added.
Governor Adeleke also said the country must pay homage to the veterans, “the living witnesses of patriotic service.”
He added: “We are celebrating men and women who pay the supreme price for the continous existence of our nation as an indivisible entity.
“We salute our heroes, the gallant servicemen whose blood were spilled for national defense.
“Permit me to use this opportunity to assure our veterans in Osun State that our government is already looking into their long list of demands.
“In due course, immediate action will be taken to satisfy the aspirations of veterans in the state.”
