- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has donated all his salaries since assuming office to the newly established welfare fund for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces injured in the line of duty as well as families of fallen heroes.
Tinubu announced the establishment of the dedicated support fund in commemoration of his 74th birthday on Sunday.
As disclosed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to establish the support fund to honour the courage, sacrifice, and service of the nation’s military personnel.
He thereafter announced plan to transfer all his salaries to the account as a personal commitment to the initiative.
“President Tinubu has directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to establish a special account for the fund, which will provide targeted support to injured service members, as well as to widows, widowers, and children of those who lost their lives in service to the country.
“As a personal commitment, the President has pledged to contribute all his salaries since assuming office as seed funding for the initiative, reinforcing his resolve to ensure that those who have borne the cost of Nigeria’s peace and security are not forgotten.” Onanuga wrote.
The Presidential spokesperson also disclosed Tinubu’s call on State Governors, members of the National Assembly, the private sector, his friends, and well-wishers to support the initiative, noting that details of the fund will be made available in due course.
He emphasised that the initiative is rooted in a solemn national obligation to care for those who stand in harm’s way and the families who carry the burden of their sacrifice, irrespective of insurance programmes available to members of the armed forces.
Tinubu also stated that supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families is not an act of charity, but a duty that all must fulfil.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the welfare of military personnel and ensuring that their service to the nation is matched with dignity, care, and sustained support.