…Gifts Benefitting Orphans’ Mothers ₦15m
…Increases CJTFs, Others Allowances By 35%
…Gifts Them End Of Year Bonus
By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
The governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday flagged-off a scholarship scheme worth ₦300 million in support of 300 orphans, whose parents died while fighting the Boko Haram insurgents as volunteers under the aegis of the ‘Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF,’ vigilantes and hunters.
The volunteers were involved with fighting Boko Haram and ISWAP side by side with the Nigerian military and other armed forces in Borno State; and lost their lives mostly at different security operations.
At the launch of the scholarship scheme, held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Government House in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Zulum said that the ₦300 million set aside was to cover all educational needs of the 300 orphans, throughout their basic education levels, in the first stage, before further support at future levels of education.
The governor had during his 2020 budget presentation promised support for the orphans under a programme titled the “Borno Heroes Support Program.”
Even before that announcement, he had on different occasions, granted support to volunteers at the front lines and to families of their colleagues killed at battles.
Beside the scholarship, Governor Zulum also approved livelihood support of at least ₦15 million to mothers and other guardians of the 300 orphans.
Each of the 300 mothers or guardians received ₦50,000 along with a bag of rice, a bag of maize and clothing materials.
In separate remarks, the chairman of a committee set up by Zulum for the selection of the 300 orphans, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, and the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa, lauded Governor Zulum’s initiative.
Lawan, who is the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Borno Central senatorial district in the 2023 general elections, was appointed while he was Commissioner for Justice, whose ministry oversees the affairs of the volunteers through a department dealing with public rights to safety.
Also during Tuesday’s launch of scholarship initiative for the 300 orphans of the slain volunteers, Governor Zulum announced a 35 per cent increase in the monthly allowances paid to the volunteers.
The allowances were raised from ₦20,000 to ₦30,000 monthly.
Zulum had in June 2019, increased the allowance from ₦15,000 to ₦20,000; and also changed the payment system from a table to individual account, which made the payment faster.
Governor Zulum also approved an end of the year bonus for all the volunteers.
With this new developments, each volunteer is expected to receive additional one month salary as a bonus.
