The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) has disengaged 162 soldiers from the military.
This comes after three months training to prepare them for reintegration into civilian life
The retirees, including seven women, comprised 81 from the Army, 69 from the Navy and 12 from Air Force.
Two officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) also underwent the post-service training with the Trainees Course 02/2020 Stream II.
This brings to total, over 48,000 personnel equipped with vocational and entrepreneurship skills since the inception of NAFRC.
At the graduation, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin said the pre-retirement course was to avail retiring personnel the requisite rudiments for a successful reintegration into civil life, after a meritorious service to the country.
He said their successful completion of the intensive training was a testament of their determination, commitment and discipline, which were attributes acquired in the course of their active service to their fatherland.
Admonishing the retirees on the need to invest their retirement benefits wisely and avoid wasteful spending, the CDS also cautioned them to properly manage their freedom.
Olonisakin said to the retirees: “You will from now on take full charge as planners and executors of your personal daily activities. This may sound exciting and promising but beware; you need to properly manage your freedom in order to be successful.
“The society will expect a high moral standard and discipline from you. You will also be required to always prove your worth after passing through a highly disciplined system like the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“As our ambassadors, I believe you are all capable of excelling in your future endeavours and positively influence your environment for the economic, social and political benefits of our dear country.
“It is equally necessary for me to inform our discharging colleagues that Post-Service life has its peculiar challenges. Some of these challenges you may encounter would include but not limited to management of resources especially, retirement benefits, influences from friends and family members, management of both mental and physical health as well as integrating with the civil society.
“Therefore, I urge you to be proactive in your conduct in order to avoid or overcome these challenges. It is also risky for you to embark on a new life style that is above your means, or engage in non-lucrative ventures. Neither should you abstain from physical exercises.
“I am sure that your training here has exposed you to several vocational opportunities, entrepreneurship procedures and general management skills to alleviate the above mentioned pit falls in order to have a stress-free and meaningful life in retirement.
“In this light, I urge you to employ the various instructions and skills you have acquired while undergoing NAFRC training for peaceful and productive economic life as you reintegrate into the Nigerian civil society.”
