President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved N18 billion for the Group Life Assurance benefits and other entitlements for families of fallen heroes of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The president announced the approval on Wednesday during the Launch of the Emblem Appeal for the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the State House, Abuja.
Tinubu, who also assured of his administration’s continued support to the nation’s armed forces by repositioning the forces, urged businesses in the country to key into the patriotic spirit by supporting them in various ways, including giving them preferential treatment and offering them discounts and rebates on goods and services to show the men and women of the nation’s armed forces that their efforts and sacrifices were appreciated.
The president said the men, women and officers of the armed forces had invested and sacrificed much to preserve the nation’s unity and charged all to see it as an obligation to jealously guard the unity bought with the lives and blood of the fallen heroes.
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“The 15th day of January is symbolic because it marks the end of the Nigerian Civil War. The occasion gives us cause for reflection and reminds us of the price that has been paid for the continued unity of this country. As the beneficiary of that sacrifice, we have an obligation to guard that unity jealously and sincerely,” he said.
The president, who also hailed the state governors for the support they have consistently given to the Nigeria Legion in their various states, challenged federal and state government agencies and parastatals to continue to patronise the veterans and the families of their fallen comrades.
President Tinubu, while launching the 2024 Remembrance Day emblem, charged all Nigerians, particularly dignitaries at the event to “donate generously, and support our veterans and dependents of fallen heroes and to encourage all of us to donate generously”.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Defense, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, recalled the various efforts made by the administration to restore peace, order and security to every part of the country and the successes that have been achieved.
He, however, noted, sadly, that in the process, many members of the armed forces had lost their lives, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
He called on all citizens and organizations to join the efforts of the government to make life more meaningful for the families of the men and women who have made sacrifices for the peace and security of the country.
Speaking with reporters after the ceremony, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa; and the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Major General Abdulmalik Jubril (retd), all expressed delight in the attention being given to the veterans and the fallen heroes, saying it would serve as a morale booster for the serving members of the armed forces.
The high point of the event was the donation of a total sum of N160 million towards the launch of the emblem. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, announced the sum of N40 million on behalf of the Federal Executive Council, which was later reviewed upwards by the President to N50 million.The speaker announced N60 million on behalf of the National Assembly and the Chief of Defense Staff announced another N50 million on behalf of the armed forces.
The event was attended by members of the Federal Executive Council and other senior government officials.
