Reps Seek Nationwide Post-Service Accommodation For Ex-Soldiers, Fallen Officers’ Widows

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to establish a National Post-Service Housing Scheme for retired Military Personnel and Widows of Fallen Officers across the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

It also asked the ministry and that of Defence to designate the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) as the lead Agency for implementation of the scheme, while leveraging the technical capacity of other existing service-based housing agencies and ensure that a defined proportion of housing units under the scheme is reserved for widows and dependents of military personnel who lost their lives in active service.

The House reached these resolutions on the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Hussain Mohammed Jallo on Thursday.

Moving the motion, Jallo said a significant number of military personnel retire from active service without access to decent and affordable housing despite their years of dedicated service to the country and widows and dependents of officers and men who lost their lives in active service are often left without adequate housing support, thereby worsening their social and economic vulnerability.

The lawmaker noted that the provision of decent post-service housing is a critical component of military welfare and a practical demonstration of the nation’s appreciation for the sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces.

He observed that service-based housing agencies within the Armed Forces as well as other security institutions, have developed housing schemes in different parts of the country, thus showing existing institutional capacity in security-sector housing delivery.

Jallo expressed concern that “the absence of a coordinated and institutionalised post-service housing framework for retired military personnel and families of fallen officers undermines morale, weakens welfare structures and exposes beneficiaries to avoidable hardship.

“Continued neglect of widows and dependants of fallen officers may erode public confidence in the nation’s commitment to honouring the sacrifices of its Armed Forces.”

Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committees on Defence, Housing, and Appropriations to interface with relevant stakeholders, including service housing agencies, to ensure adequate funding, implementation, and sustainability of the scheme and report within four weeks for further legislative action.