Nigerian Legion calls on FG to empower wives, children of fallen heroes

PDP Candidates being dedictated by Rev Ime Usoroh at QIC Oku,Uyo

The Nigerian Legion Eket Area Council  has called on the Federal Government to empower wives of the fallen heroes in order to alleviate their sufferings.

Major Joseph Esu (Retired), Chairman, Nigerian Legion Eket Area Council made the call at the occasion of the Armed Force Remembrance Day Celebration in Eket.

He said that the wives and children of the fallen heroes are not care for since their breadwinners paid the supreme price and laid down their lives for unity of the country.

“ Their wives and children are not cared for; we are praying that the government should look into it and empower the women of the fallen heroes.
“That is our focus this year, to empower the widows to alleviate their sufferings and also help their children to go to school,’’ he said.

Esu said that the ceremony was aimed to honour those legionaries who live but sometimes without vital limbs and organs.

“We also use this ceremony to raise public awareness concerning the plight of legionaires, widows and children who are orphaned because their breadwinners gallantly died for the unity of the country,’’ he said.

He decried that the state government was yet to pay harmonise allowance of 31 per cent to the legion in the area.

“We are saddened to note that the issue of harmonization and payment of 31 per cent arrears is still pending and we appeal that this issue be settled once and for all,’’ Esu said.

He noted that over 95 per cent of donations from government, groups and individuals in the last year’s ceremony were un-redeemed till date.
The Chairman said that the legion at state and zone launched the Widow Empowerment Initiatives in 2014.

Esu added that during the initiative, the legion distributed sewing machines, wrappers, mattresses and pop corn making machines to help alleviate the hardship face by the wives of the fallen heroes.

He appealed to spiritual individuals, governments, groups for support for effective functioning of legion activities.

He commended the Federal Government for the regular payment of pensions for the legionaries.

Earlier, Mr Aniekan Akpan, Chairman of Eket Local Government acknowledged that the fallen heroes gallantly fought and sacrifices their lives during war in order to have indivisible entity for the nation.

He restated state government’s commitment to support the Nigerian Legion in the state. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the high points of the events includes, the remembrance parade, laying of wreaths in the Cenotaph of the unknown, launching of emblem among others.