By Adeolu Johnson
The Chairman of Nigerian Legion Major General AM Jibril rtd has asked the Federal Government to include the body in the country’s yearly budgetary allocations to enable it meet its obligations and functions.
He made this plea during the 2024 Nigeria Legion Humanitarian Day held at Area 3, Garki, Abuja last weekend.
General Jubril explained that the allocations if made will the Nigerian Legion to deliver on its core mandate of providing care for those in needs as well as support the veterans who served the country in their youthful age.
“I am calling on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to include us in the yearly budgetary allocations in the same way the National Senior Citizen Centre (NSCC) was included.
“The Humanitarian celebration is to ensure that the contributions and sacrifices made by the fallen soldiers and brave veterans are not forgotten and neither are the needs of their families and dependents.
He thanked the President for donating a sum of N 500 Million to the Nigerian Legion during its visit to him at the Presidential Villa.
The Nigerian Legion for the 2024 Humanitarian Day donated food items, cash and other gift items to the Nigerian Military Widows Wives Association MIWA.
Commending the Nigerian Legion for the donation, the Interim President of MIWA, Mrs. Olubunmi Ese-Okiti thanked the Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Major General AM Jibril rtd for empowering the late officer’s widows and children of late officers who paid ultimate prices with their lives for the country’s freedom and security.
“We are indeed grateful for the support provided towards the families and loved ones they left behind.
Your efforts will undoubtedly improve and ameliorate the lives of these widows and children of the fallen heroes.
By doing so, the Nigerian Legion efforts are shining example in recognizing the sacrifices, services and the selfness our brave soldiers who laid their lives down for the nation,” she said.
The President said the items provided include gifts such as cash, food items, scholarships and medical services for the widows and their children.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director Healthcare Foundation, Mrs. Sylvia Ibie pointed out that the body in collaboration with the Nigerian Legion is out to support the system especially the widows of fallen heroes with free medical services and other items.
“We are running several blood tests, malaria and hepatitis B and C screening free of charge and this programme is targeted towards 150 to 200 Nigerians patients who are mainly widows of fallen soldiers, veterans and the retired ones.
Our priority is for those widows over the serving military ones because they made the ultimate sacrifice. We are not just providing free screenings but we also supporting them with food items and basic needs.
We conduct this outreach 3 to 4 times in a month aside the Military which has its own structure that which provides for them quarterly or during the Memorial Day like the one coming up in January,” the Executive Director said.
