Association advocates inclusion of legionnaires in FG’s social security programme
Legionnaires
By Auwalu Yusuf Birnin-Kudu
Bauchi, Feb. 26, 2020 (NAN) Nigerian Legionnaires Wives Association has urged the Federal Government to expand the scope of Social Security programme to incorporate legionnaires in the country.
Mrs Fatima Danjuma, National President of the association, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Bauchi.
Fatima said the call was imperative to improve social and economic well being of the legionnaires considering their plight and pathetic condition.
She noted that some of the legionnaires were incapacitated in active service, hence, they could not fend for their families.
“Some of our husbands are critically down by different ailments and old age.
“Survival is becoming difficult to the legionnaires and their families especially the education of our children and getting them employed after graduation from schools.
“It is desirable for the government to introduce a special welfare package for our husbands in view of their contributions in maintaining national unity and cohesion.
“I also appealed to the military authorities to as a matter of concern and compassion, to recruit interested and qualified children of the legionnaires into the military to enable them fend for their families,” she said.
Fatima disclosed that the association had inaugurated state offices in Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Katsina, adding that similar offices would soon be set up in Benue and Jigawa States.
According to her, the association is training 100 members in Bauchi on bags, cosmetics and soap processing under its skill acquisition scheme, adding that the gesture was to enable them learn trades and engage in productive activities.
Fatima said that the association had also distributed food items to 500 members in 20 local government areas of Bauchi State in the past two years.
She added that the association has 13, 500 registered members in the country. (NAN)
BKD/RSA
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Edited by Rabiu Sani Ali