Buhari swears in new SGF, launches Armed Forces emblem

By Abdullahi M. Gulloma

Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday swore in Mr. Boss Mustapha as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
The President also launched the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem and Appeal Fund shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President appealed to corporate organisations, especially service providers and other business concerns, to support the veterans’ cause through voluntary donations, employment opportunities and welfare support.
“The noble culture of appreciation and respect for veterans and servicemen and women experienced all over the world is very much part of us in Nigeria. I therefore look forward to a time when business concerns and service providers in the country would give special recognition and consideration for these distinguished citizens and support the veterans’ cause in any way they can through voluntary donations, employment opportunities and welfare support,” he said.
He called on all Nigerians to procure and wear the emblem with pride as a way of identifying with those that laid down their lives, the incapacitated and others who are daily in harm’s way in order to guarantee the peace and security of the country and its peoples.
The President also inaugurated a Partnership Scheme for the Armed Forces, and called on all Nigerians to donate to the cause of the Nigerian Legion and the families of the country’s fallen heroes.
He assured that the federal government would improve the capability of the Armed Forces to discharge its duties effectively, stressing that government’s efforts in boosting the morale of men and women of the Armed Forces have already started yielding positive results.
In his remarks, Minister of Defence, retired Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Ali, expressed concern that the emblem patronage by Nigerians was not encouraging, and called for support for the legion.
He called for an inter-ministerial collaboration among Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in championing the patronage of the emblem by Nigerians.

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