ARMY INFANTRY OFFICERS WELFARE SCHEME PAYS FIRST SET OF BENEFICIARIES

By NBF News

The idea to have a welfare scheme exclusively for the infantry officers, which is aimed at meeting the needs of the families of retired, disabled or deceased officers was first mooted two years ago. Recently, in a special ceremony, cheques were presented to four beneficiaries who were next of kin to four deceased infantry officers.

Speaking, during the presentation of cheques to the first beneficiaries at the Headquarters, Infantry Corps, Jaji, the Commander, Infantry Corps, Major General Mohammed Isah, said the Nigerian Army Officers' Welfare Scheme, which was born out of sincere concern and passion for the welfare of infantry officers families had come to stay.

The commander, while conveying condolence message to the next of kin of the four deceased officers said he knew each of these officers on one-to-one basis, adding that they were fine officers the infantry family lost. According to him, they had good records during their service years.

The beneficiaries were Master Achung Ashia the next of kin to Lt. Col. Canis Ashia who was presented with a cheque of N1,024,960.54k; Mr. Okonkon Ekpeyong who was presented with a cheque of N663,277.70k; Joseph Marsa the next of kin to Capt. Jacob Marsa was presented with a cheque of N409,966.62k and David Ikpa, the next of kin to Lt. Daniel Ikpa who went home with a cheque of N204,963.31k.

Earlier, the Assistant Chief of Staff, G1 Cell in charge of Administration, Col. O. T. Akinjobi eulogised the commander, Infantry Corps, for his effort in seeing that the welfare scheme was put in place. He took time to reel out what infantry officers stood to benefit as they subscribed to the welfare scheme.

The Nigerian Army Officers Welfare Scheme was approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Onyeabo Ihejirika on November 5, 2010. Beside the Infantry Corps Welfare Scheme, there were other welfare packages already existing at the Nigerian Army level to cater for the welfare of officers and soldiers. So, Infantry Welfare Scheme served as a complementary scheme to the already existing Army Welfare Scheme.