Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to extend the scope of its Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme to encompass the families of fallen Nigerian soldiers and members of the Nigerian Legion. The announcement was made by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, during her visit to the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.
Dr. Edu expressed the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable ex-servicemen, widows, and the dependents of fallen heroes as part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s priorities. To realize this objective, accurate data on the affected families of ex-servicemen is being sought to include them during the ongoing verification of the national social register.
The expansion of the national social register, as directed by the President, aims to encompass these vulnerable groups, allowing them to benefit from social intervention programs. Dr. Edu emphasized that the program’s focus is to provide support to the widows of fallen heroes, enabling them to establish small businesses, ensure their children’s education, and access basic healthcare.
In addition to the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, the government has also introduced the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP) to assist small-scale businesses across the country.
Furthermore, Dr. Edu appealed to the Ministry of Defence to provide adequate security cover for humanitarian workers while they carry out their fieldwork, recognizing the importance of safety during these efforts.
The Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, praised the Humanitarian Ministry’s initiatives to support the families of fallen heroes and expressed a commitment to strengthen collaboration between the two ministries to alleviate the challenges faced by Nigerians.
Abubakar highlighted the significance of including retirees in the welfare scheme, emphasizing the positive impact it would have on retired officers, their families, and the motivation it provides to those currently serving to secure Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Retired Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jubril, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for including retirees in the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, acknowledging the critical need for medical care and a decent livelihood for their members. The Nigerian Legion represents the last hope for retired military officers and continues to grow, making government support even more essential.
This move by the Federal Government reflects a commitment to honoring the sacrifices made by Nigerian soldiers and their families and providing them with the necessary support and opportunities for a better quality of life.