As a practical appreciation of the sacrifices, courage and commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces in service of the country, President Bola Tinubu has launched a dedicated welfare fund for wounded soldiers and families of fallen military personnel, donating his salaries since assuming office on May 29, 2023 as seed funding.
While making this known on Sunday to mark his 74th birthday, the President that his decision to commit his salaries to the cause underscores a personal commitment to ensuring that those who have borne the burden of the nation’s security are not forgotten.
He directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to immediately establish a special account for the scheme, which will provide targeted support to personnel injured in the line of duty, as well as widows, widowers and children of those who lost their lives defending the country.
“What I need to do on your behalf is to announce a special account to be created today from all the salaries that I’ve earned. The Accountant General should establish an account to fund those men and women who stand in harm’s way, who have lost husbands and wives,” Tinubu said.
According to the most recent publicly available data by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the President’s monthly salary stands at N1,171,568.20, translating to an annual salary of N14,058,820.
Over the full four-year term from May 29, 2023, to May 29, 2027, this would amount to approximately N56.2m in basic salary.
However, presidential remuneration includes additional allowances such as hardship allowance (50 per cent of basic salary) and constituency allowance (250 per cent of basic salary), among others.
When statutory allowances are factored in, a rough estimate puts the total annual compensation at approximately N30,525,000, which would bring the four-year donation to approximately N122.1m.
Tinubu emphasised that the fund will provide targeted support separate from existing insurance or military welfare programmes.
“Create a special funding for them, regardless of what insurance or what military or the armed forces might have been doing,” he added.
The initiative, described as rooted in “a solemn national obligation,” will support injured service members, widows, widowers, and children of military personnel who lost their lives in service to Nigeria.
The President specifically highlighted support for soldiers who suffered severe injuries in the line of duty. “Those who might have lost limbs or arms, we will be able to give them hope and a better promise for the future. Nigeria will overcome this problem of insecurity,” he said.
He called on state governors, members of the National Assembly, the private sector, his friends, and well-wishers to contribute to the fund.
“Let’s put our hands together to donate, especially to that account,” Tinubu urged governors and lawmakers present. The Presidency would later add in a statement that supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families “is not an act of charity, but a duty that all must fulfil.”
