The Chairman of Tai local government area of Rivers State, Hon Friday Nbakpone has reiterated his commitment to keep pushing for the welfare of the Tai legionnaires and their widows.
The council boss stated this during this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at Saakpenwa, the headquarters of the local government area. He directed the Chairman of the Nigerian legion, Tai chapter, Acc Maj. Kuu to immediately submit the list of the widows of those that laid their lives for the unity of Nigeria for an empowerment scheme.
He said as government, his administration would provide a means to train those widows on any skill acquisition of their choice, give out money to the ones that would love to go into petty trading, and also support the ones that would go into farming so as to enable them support their children.
His words: “I want the widows of our fallen heroes to be active and be supportive to their children, so the leader of the legion should list out their names, let me know what they want to do. Those that want to go into table business, farming or even the ones that would love to learn handiwork of their choice should indicate, so that I can raise money in good value and give them as an empowerment scheme for the widows.
The council boss who restated his support to the ex service men said the monthly stipend is to give them a sense of belonging, noting that the pension package given to them is too little to sustain their larger families.
The chairman further used the medium to thank the legionnaires for their support to the government of Tai local government under his leadership and urged them to continue to do so with their wealth of experience in the area of security. He also called on all and sundry to give a helping hand to the ex service men.
Hon. Okpe also promised to give a face-lift to the office of the legion as soon as they are done with the forthcoming general elections.
Hon. Okpe doled out the sum of #1,000,000.00 for the legion in Tai local government area, which he said has been forwarded to the State government as their part of their contribution to support the legionnaires.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian legion, Tai chapter, Acc Maj. Kuu Aminikpo thanked their patron, Hon. Okpe for the immeasurable support given to them, ranging from the monthly stipends given to them by the council, engagement of the gallant legionnaires in security and the ongoing empowerment program of eligible Tai youths into the Armed Forces to replace them. He promised to stand by the council boss no matter the tide and weather.
The highpoint of the celebration was the laying of the wreath by the council boss, DPO of Tai police Station and the Chairman of the legionnaires.
