Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
The Federal Government has commenced the enrolment of armed forces veterans, widows and orphans, as well as dependants and caregivers of fallen heroes to enable them benefit from cash transfer palliatives.
The exercise, which kicked off at the weekend in Umuahia, was organised by the Ministry of Defence Steering Committee on Social Safety Net in collaboration with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Speaking at the event, which held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, said that the Federal Government was concerned about the welfare of the veterans and those left behind by the nation’s fallen heroes.
The minister, who was represented by a director in Joint Services, Dr Jude Alozie, said that the cash transfer palliatives was to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
He noted that the enrolment was significant since “this is the first time there’s been a deliberate attempt to capture veterans”, adding that things would get better going forward.
According to him, the enrolment would lead to the creation of a national safety register for veterans which would make it easy for the veterans to benefit from the economic programmes of the Federal Government.
He assured the veterans that other government economic empowerment programmes would also be extended to them.
The defence minister emphasized that the cash transfer palliative “is open to all veterans and families of fallen heroes”, adding that he expects the enrolment to be hitch free.
“I don’t want to hear complaints that somebody was not captured at the end of the exercise,” he warned.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Maj Gen Christopher Musa, urged the veterans and dependants of fallen heroes to maximise the opportunity of benefitting from government’s economic programme.
Represented by the Commander, 15 Brigade Ohafia, Brig Gen Caius Akan Baushe, the CDS said that no beneficiary should be left behind, adding that the message for enrolment should be taken to the grassroots.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Maj Gen Abdulmalik Jubril (rtd), said that the decision of President Bola Tinubu to extend the palliative cash transfer to the veterans community was the first of its kind.
He stated that the gesture was in tandem with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda involving the economic upliftment of 15 million households across the nation.
The Nigerian Legion leader said that the beneficiaries would receive N25,000 stipend for three consecutive months.
Jubril noted that the choice of Abia for the flag-off of the enrolment was a decision in the right direction, adding that: “We’re here to identify with our veterans, widows and orphans of fallen heroes, caregivers.”
Jubril called for sustained support of the Nigerian Legion by governments, groups and individual, saying that the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day would be launched on October 25, 2023 by President Tinubu.
Earlier, the Abia State chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Navy Commander Ambrose Nwabigwu (rtd), lauded President Tinubu for his “special love” for the veterans community.
He said that it was thoughtful of Mr. President to mitigate the attendant sufferings and hardships of the fuel subsidy removal hence the special programme was packaged for the members of the Nigerian Legion and dependants of fallen heroes.
“We in Abia appreciate this gesture,” he said.
