Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says his administration will continue to support ex-service men and accord their welfare a priority.
Sanwo-Olu gave the pledge on Monday while launching the 2020 Nigerian armed forces remembrance day emblem and appeal fund at the Lagos House, Ikeja, saying retired servicemen and their immediate family members must not be left to suffer, some having paid the supreme price fighting for a united Nigeria.
The armed forces remembrance day is annual event to celebrate the gallantry of military officers, ex-servicemen and survivors of wars, who fought to keep the peace and unity of Nigeria.
“Our ex-service men have laboured for the unity of our country. When they retire, they must not be left to regret their service to our fatherland. In their retirement, they deserve to live quality life and their welfare must be at the centre of every programme created for them.
“As a government, we will continue to support them, not only during this period of armed forces remembrance day, but all year round. We have working relationships with members of the Nigerian Legion and we will continue to review those relationships positively to see how we can finance and improve the quality of life of each and every one,” said the governor.
Launching the appeal fund, Sanwo-Olu urged members of the state executive council and top government officials to donate to the cause.
According to him, this is a small but significant ceremony that will be on for the next six weeks, before official inauguration on January 15, 2020.
Chairman of Lagos State Council of Nigeria Legion, Fola Akande, a retired colonel, urged contemporary leaders and political class not to forget the valour of the fallen military personnel.
He said: “We enjoin you all to always remember and identify with ex-Servicemen, their widows and their dependent relatives, particularly in the season, to donate generously by buying and wearing the armed forces remembrance day celebration emblem.”We want to say a very big thank you to Mr Governor for making out time from his busy schedule to launch the year 2019/2020 appeal fund.
There was a symbolic decoration of the governor; the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat; the chief of staff, Tayo Ayinde; the secretary to the state government, Folashade Jaji; the head of service, Hakeem Okunola and the attorney general and commissioner for justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, Akande.
JOSHUA BASSEY
