CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER: FG Includes Ex-Service Men, Families Of Falling Heroes, Windows, Others

Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu  has included vulnerable ex-service men ,Widows and dependants of fallen heroes in the National Social Register to benefit from the Conditional Cash Transfer and other Social Intervention programmes.

According to a statement by Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair , Special Adviser On Media and Publicity to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu on Wednesday 11th October 2023,  disclosed this during an official visit to the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Tuesday in Abuja.

 

Edu said the federal government has expanded the welfare scheme to accommodate ex-service men, their widows and dependants in fulfilment of the  Renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promise to Nigerians.

 

The Minister said the new innovation became necessary to include those  who paid the Supreme price for the Sustainance of the peace of the  country and their dependants  to serve as a morale booster for those currently  securing the country.

 

She sought for the accurate data of  the affected ex- servicemen and their dependants to enable them to be captured in the ongoing national social register verification

 

” This scheme is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu renewed hope agenda  and I am here to inform you that the programe has been expanded to accommodate   retired personnel of Ministry of Defence mostly families of those who lost their lives in the course of defending the country.

 

“Their wives can use this to startup small businesses that will help their children stay in school and provide basic health care and even sustain the families. Of course, your Excellency, this guest show is not only for the 75,000 their their household.she added.

 

The Minister said the federal government has created Government Enterprise Empowerment Programe (GEEP) which is geared towards helping Small Scale businesses and boosting the welfare of Nigeria market women and farmers which the ex- service men and widows can key into.

 

Dr Edu equally called on the Ministry of Defence to collaborate with Humanitarian Ministry to ensure President  Bola Ahmed succeeds in eradicating poverty in Nigeria.

 

She reiterated her Ministry’s readiness to ensure that those who served the country meritoriously and died in active service  are not left behind in the scheme, The minister also requested the Minister of Defence to provide adequate security cover for Humanitarian workers  while going about to carry out their national assignment in all the  states prone to Insecurity.

 

In his response, the Hon Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, said the visit was timely and thanked Dr Edu for including the retirees in the welfare scheme which he said, will go a long way to renewed  the hope of retired officers and their families and  motivate the working officers to secure the Nigeria territororial integrity.

 

The Defence Miniser who was accompanied at the event with his Minister, Bello Mattawale  said be rest assured that the  Defence  Ministry will collaborate with its  Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation  counterpart to ensure proper coordination of the scheme.

 

“We want you to send our sincere appreciation to Mr. President for doing the exceptional by considering us we thank him for giving you this opportunity to help the nation and also we thank God for giving you the opportunity to be innovative on the job that you’re doing. When you met the Chief of Defence Staff, the words came to round that you are supporting the military, all our team became delighted and happy” he said.

 

On his part, Chairman of Nigeria Legion,Major General Abdulmalik Jubril (RTD), thanked President Bola Tinubu and Dr Edu,for the new innovation, saying “this has never happened before”

 

He said Nigeria Legion is the last hope for retired officers which he said keep increasing in numbers.

 

The legion  he said will need health care, welfare and livelihood for its members

 

‘” This organ of the Military(Army, Airforce and Navy) retirees needs  government support ,  such gesture like this  has not been given to us before including wives and families of the fallen heros” .

 

Caption:

Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu  and Minister, Bello Mattawale during the event