Abuja: Justice Godwin Iheabunike of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has urged serving and retiring military personnel to make adequate legal and financial preparations for life after service. Iheabunike stated that this preparedness includes drafting valid wills to safeguard their assets and protect their families. He delivered these remarks in Abuja during a paper presentation titled ‘Legal Affairs, Will Writing and Retirement Rights’ at a two-day Pre-Retirement Transition Readiness Workshop (Pilot Group) aimed at senior officers of the Armed Forces.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop, themed ‘Institutionalising Compulsory Rehabilitation and Unified Transition Assistance Training Programme for Retiring Senior Officers,’ is part of ongoing efforts to enhance post-service readiness through legal, financial, and welfare awareness. Iheabunike elaborated that legal preparedness involves ensuring that one’s affairs are in proper legal order before or upon retirement, covering aspects such as wills, powers of attorney, pension documentation, and estate structuring.
Iheabunike emphasized that legal preparedness is not a one-off event but an ongoing process that requires review, adaptation, and communication. He remarked, “Writing a will is not a sign of death but an act of foresight and responsibility. Legal preparedness ensures that your family is protected, your wishes are respected, and your legacy preserved.” The judge outlined the major purposes of legal preparedness, which include the preservation of family wealth, avoidance of litigation, protection of dignity in retirement, and promotion of intergenerational equity through deliberate asset distribution.
Addressing the transition from military to civilian life, Iheabunike noted that it is not only financial but also legal, emotional, and familial. He urged officers with multiple dependents and assets to make living wills specifying management of their affairs in case of incapacitation, to ensure peace of mind and family stability. On topics of retirement and pension rights, he advised personnel to understand their entitlements under the Pension Reform Act, 2014, and stressed the importance of maintaining active Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs), knowing withdrawal rules, and regularly reviewing pension contributions.
Iheabunike added, “A modest investment of time and professional advice today can avert costly and acrimonious disputes tomorrow.” He commended the Defence Headquarters for organizing continuous sensitization programs for officers and men of the Armed Forces, describing the initiative as a vital step toward institutionalizing welfare and transition support systems. Participants at the workshop praised the lecture as insightful and timely, particularly for officers nearing retirement, noting that legal and financial planning are crucial to a smooth and dignified post-service life.