Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin has decried the proliferation of veteran associations, saying it hampers efforts aimed at overall benefit of retirees across services.

Olonisakin made this known on Tuesday, when he declared open a two-day unification workshop for veterans with theme: “Unification of veterans’ Association in Nigeria: A panacea for building a vibrant veteran association.’’

He said the workshop was organised to discuss areas of difference in order to fashion out ways to concentrate efforts to unite the various associations into a “very formidable and respectable veteran organization.’’

“It is our desire to see the emergence of a single unified body for effective management and administration of all our military veterans.

“By putting in place a robust and very effective system for veteran administration, we believe we will be leaving behind a legacy that will be of benefit not only to us in our retirement but also our families as officers and soldiers, who have given a substantial part of our adult life to the service of the nation,’’ he said.

According to him, veteran administration in the 21st century has improved tremendously in many nations.

He said as part of efforts to improve administration of veteran, he approved a team in 2017 to visit Egypt to study their model.

The CDS said the team made some far reaching recommendations which include a proposal for direct budgetary allocation for veteran administration.

“While this and other recommendations are being considered, the Defence Headquarters has taken the initiative to organize this workshop to discuss issues of veteran administration in Nigeria and fashion out an appropriate model,’’ Olonisakin said.

Earlier, Maj.-Gen. E.C.N. Obi, Director, Veteran Affairs DHQ, described the workshop as first of its kind, adding that there had been a lot of passion by veterans for their welfare, resulting in plurality of associations.

Obi, however, noted that a united and single body would be stronger and better than so “many fragmented bodies.’’

According to him, the need to have a unified veteran body that will tap the abundant human resources of our ex-servicemen to improve their lots and contribute to national development is long overdue