The Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Lagos chapter, Mr Akeem Wolimoh on Sunday said that the legion experienced a massive financial pledge during the last Armed Forces Remembrance Day under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Wolimoh in an interview with a reporter in Lagos said that Tinubu approved N18 billion Group Life Assurance benefits and other entitlements to the families of fallen heroes.
ReelzzNewzz24 recalls that Tinubu gave the approval at the launch of the Emblem and Appeal Fund for the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day which held last October at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“The last Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an instance of a significant change in the history of the Nigerian Legion.
“In the past, the launching of our emblem has been something between the span of N10 million and N20 million from past presidents to support the emblem launch.
“However, President Tinubu changed the expectation magnanimously by introducing a benefit that will impact more on the lives of fallen heroes and military veterans,” he said.
The chairman said that a month after the president’s approval, the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja assured personnel that the payment of the outstanding shall commence soon.
According to him, Lagbaja said this during the occasion of the Second Regimental Sergeant Majors 2023 Convention which held in Ibadan.
“In the past, the Nigerian Legion used to have complaints from the families of some of our fallen heroes regarding the payment of benefits.
“After Tinubu’s pronouncement, no widow has come to us to lodge any complaint regarding such allowances not being paid,” the chairman said.
According to Wolimoh, the best way of managing security is to make sure that the welfare of the military, ex-service men and the families of fallen heroes are well taken care of.
“This is necessary because if their welfare is not well taken care of, active military personnel will not want to give their best in the course of duty.
“The way we manage military pensioners serves as a sign to serving personnel and this must be done earnestly because the military is the peak of security agency and operations.
“So, we cannot afford to toy with their welfare and endeavor to encourage them so that we can get the best out of them,” he said.
The chairman also thanked the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support to the affairs of the Nigerian Legion at state council over the years.
He, however, called on Local Government Areas (LGA) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairmen to support the Nigerian Legion at the grassroot.
“They can give out monthly stipend to the legion just like the way the state government does with quarterly subvention so that the legion will be more functional at the grassroot.
“At the state level, we are happy with what the government has been doing.
“I recall during the last Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Gov. Sanwo-Olu pledged N50 million to launch the emblem and he has been keeping up the same tempo,” Wolimoh said. The chairman said that president Tinubu’s administration regarding the affairs of the Nigerian Legion had started on a good platform and that he believed it would be continued in that way.