The Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Alhaji Bashir Kazaure, says the resettlement of retired service men would help in reducing crime rate.
Kazaure, speaking during an oversight visit to the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC ) in Lagos on Friday, said empowering the retired military men would make them self-reliant.
“We have seen that this transformation centre needs to be encouraged, as this is the place that would make them self-reliant and be useful to themselves and the society,” he said.
Kazaure, in the company of 18 other members of the committee, took a tour of facilities and projects in the centre.
He said the visit, which was backed by Section 88 of the Nigerian constitution, was vital in the transformation of the nation.
While touring the site being renovated, Kazaure commended the centre and said that proper handling of the centre was vital to the survival of the retirees.
“This is a good transformation site, as the centre is very vital to the survival of the Armed Forces personnel who put at risk their lives in the service of the country,” he said.
The committee chairman said the programme was the best way of showing gratitude to the military men who served their country meritoriously and needed good rest.
The Commandant, NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Clement Aroriode, said from 2009 to 2011 the centre received about N2 million for its capital expenditure instead of about N7 million proposed.
“We have the challenge of inadequate funds in the midst of accumulated projects, including some abandoned ones,” he said.
The Commandant said some of the on-going projects included barracks, security posts, sporting and recreational facilities, roads and drainages, fire station and points, health facilities, industrial machines and clothing for trainees.
Aroriode said there was the need to hire specialists as consultants for professionalism, completion of abandoned projects and empowering the retirees.
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