Borno awards N300 million scholarship to orphans of slain CJTF, Vigilantes, hunters
By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri
Three Hundred orphans of the members of volunteer Civilian Joint Task Force, (CJTF), hunters and vigilantes who paid supreme price in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency were offered offered scholarship by the Borno state government in its efforts to bring succour yo their fathers.
presenting the cheque of N300 million scholarship to the orphans at the Government House, Maiduguri on Tuesday, the Borno state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum said “”the scholarship award is to cushion the effect of the hardship encountered by the orphans following the death of their fathers,” .
According to the Governor, the award of the scholarship to the 300 orphans is the first phase of programme designed for the children of the large number of the volunteers killed by the insurgents.
“The programme will be implemented for as long as I remain the governor of Borno State, and I hope my successor do so for the sacrifices of their fathers for us to sleep with eyes closed.. “We will continue to identify and enrol more of such orphans in the programme.”
Governor Zulum said the government will be expending N60 million annually for five years, where cash of the orphans will get N200,000 for the school feeding, uniform among others.
He also announced an upward review of the monthly allowances of the volunteers, who comprise the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilante, from N20,000 to N30,000 and an end-of-year bonus of N20,000 each.
The Governor said part from the scholarship award, the state government also gave N50 each, 1 bag of rice,1 bag of maize and wrappers to the families of the 300 orphans yo cushion their hardships.
He commended the military, police and other security agencies, as well as CJTF, volunteer hunters and vigilantes to their doggedness in the fight against insurgency.
In his goodwill message, the theater Commander Northeast, Operation Had in Kai, Major General Christopher Musa commended the Governor for supporting the families of the Late Volunteer CJTF, Vigilantes and hunters, stressing that for them in the military they know the importance of supporting the families of those who paid supreme price in line of duty.
He assured of their commitment and determination to do everything possible to end insurgency in the state and Northeast in general.
Also the Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali who was represented by the head Administration, Mustapha Grema commended the government for the scholarship, stressing that the the commission also have similar scholarship to the victims of insurgency.
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of the committee for the award of scholarship, Barrister Kaka shehu Lawan said the 300 orphans were carefully selected from the families of volunteer CHTF, vigilantes and hunters, which comprises 110 females and 199 males.
He said it could be recalled that in November, 2021 during your budget presentation of 2022 budget you promised to introduce ” Borno Heroes Scholarship support, thus occasion is in perchance of your that promised.